Free SHS is a burdensome programme - Seth Terkper

Former Finance Minister, Seth Terkper has described one of government’s flagship, Free SHS project as a burdensome programme which requires effective planning to be sustained.

Speaking to Paul Adom Otchere on Metro TV’s Good evening Ghana, he said the Finance Minister’s budget presentation did not give enough information on the programme.

Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta during his presentation of the 2018 Budget statement to parliament said the initiative has given hope to parents and students whom hitherto had no hope of furthering their education.

But Seth Terkper said even though the project is doing very well so far, there is the need to know the number of students to be covered in the next academic year for proper planning.

He said, “a laudable programme may not necessarily be fiscally sustainable. We’re a nation which could not sustain subsidies and brought our energy sector down so I’m only posting a caution to ensure that we plan effectively.”

The country’s first attempt at making education free was started by first President Kwame Nkrumah after independence for people of northern extraction.

But this one under the Akufo-Addo government has seen all students across the country benefiting and parents of over the 400,000 students have been relieved of the burden of funding their education at the senior high level.

Delivering the 2018 budget statement in Parliament, the Finance Minister said he is proud to be part of such a history.

These achievements for Ken Ofori-Atta is “heartwarming when a parent walks up to you and says ‘thank you for putting money in my purse because she did not have to pay 2,000 for her two daughters in SHS.”