Free SHS has allowed ‘needy’ students to attend first-grade schools without protocol – Schwarzenegger

Ghanaian socialite, Afia Schwarzenegger has praised President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the introduction of the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy in Ghana, which has broadened educational access.

She asserted that the Free SHS policy has levelled the playing field for secondary education, allowing all eligible individuals to acquire knowledge and enhance their well-being.

She highlighted that the policy grants brilliant but needy students the opportunity to attend top-tier schools such as Prempeh College and Achimota School, democratizing education beyond the constraints of one's background.

During a TikTok live session, Schwarzenegger pointed out the absence of such a system in the past, where affluent families could secure places in prestigious schools for their children through influence.

"Free SHS has opened doors for all children to receive education. Even the children of my security personnel are reaping its benefits. Previously, without wealth, one could not aspire to attend schools like Kumasi High, Prempeh College, Achimota School, or Adisadel College.

"Those institutions were once the preserve of the affluent, but thanks to Akufo-Addo's Free SHS policy, even children from less privileged backgrounds [needy] can attend Adisadel College. Eight years ago, it depended on who you knew and what you possessed to gain admission to these schools," she said.

The Free SHS policy has garnered applause from parents and others who recognize its role in boosting enrollment and providing educational opportunities for disadvantaged students.

Notwithstanding its successes, some educators and politicians have advocated for a review to rectify issues such as infrastructural shortfalls, aiming for further improvements.

Yet, the government has not agreed to these demands, insisting that the policy will be refined as necessary.

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