Investigate media outlet, The Fourth Estate is set to release a new investigative documentary examining the impact of Ghana’s Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy, which was introduced in 2017.
The documentary, which will be released on Monday, May 12, 2025, according to the Fourth Estate is titled “Free SHS: The truth, the lies, and the reality.”
The Free SHS marked a significant step in the Ghanaian education system as it eased the financial burden on parents and increased accessibility accounting for some 3.9 million beneficiaries according to Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu since its inception.
However, as the years progressed, senior high schools began to face challenges that raised concerns about the long-term effectiveness of the policy. Shortages of food, overcrowded dormitories, and packed classrooms became common in some schools.
In an X post, the Fourth Estate revealed their efforts in conducting thorough research and interviews about the policy with the key stakeholders of the second cycle education to reveal the “harsh realities” of Free SHS which has culminated into a documentary.
“One of the biggest education interventions in Ghana’s history, the Free SHS programme has resulted in a significant increase in access to high school education, but it has brought in its wake a myriad of problems challenging the delivery of quality education.
The Fourth Estate has visited several high schools across the country and spoken with headteachers, course masters, reps of PTAs and the Teachers Association to present the harsh realities of the Free SHS programme.
“WATCH OUT for our captivating documentary–FREE SHS: The truth, the lies and the reality—on Monday, May 12, 2025,” they stated.
The Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy became a major topic during the 2024 elections, particularly following the NPP’s campaign claim that John Mahama would scrap the policy if voted into power.
However, in his State of the Nation Address, President Mahama categorically stated that the policy would not be scrapped. Instead, he emphasized that it would be reviewed to make it more effective and sustainable, outlining a number of proposed reforms.
Among the key reforms already implemented are the uncapping of the GETFund to channel more resources into second-cycle education, and the decentralization of food procurement and management, giving more authority to school heads.
This approach has been acknowledged by the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) as having improved student feeding. Additionally, Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) have been reinstated to strengthen school governance and stakeholder involvement.Furthermore, the government has allocated GH¢3.5 billion to fund the Free SHS programme.
This funding is directed toward infrastructural improvements, the procurement of educational materials for students, and the enhancement of teacher recruitment and training in order to improve the overall quality of education.
Story by: Salomey Barnor