By: Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
The Centre for Policy Scrutiny (CPS) is warning that the expansion of Ghana’s Free Senior High School (SHS) programme must not come at the expense of basic education, urging government to protect funding and oversight for Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE).
The Centre argues that sustained investment in basic education is critical to the success of Free SHS because weaknesses at the foundational level could ultimately undermine learning outcomes at the secondary level.
The recommendation forms part of a new report titled “Improved Access, Quality Questioned: A Report on Nine Years of Ghana’s Free SHS,” presented by Dr Jacob Oppong Nkansah, a lecturer at the University of Education, Winneba.
The report raises concerns about whether the growing focus on Free SHS is resulting in inadequate attention and resources for basic education.
It questions whether FCUBE is being gradually overshadowed by Free SHS and warns that shifting significant funding towards secondary education could weaken the quality of education at the basic level.
Dr Nkansah stressed that a strong basic education system is essential for producing students capable of benefiting fully from secondary education.
“What happened to Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education, FCUBE? Is FCUBE under threat because of Free Senior High School? Is FCUBE being neglected in favour of Free Senior High School? And what happens to basic education if funding shifts upwards?”
The CPS is therefore calling for FCUBE to receive equal policy weight and priority, alongside ring-fenced funding and stronger oversight as the Free SHS programme continues to expand.
Dr Nkansah cautioned that failure to address challenges at the basic level could undermine the gains made through increased access to secondary education.
“Free Senior High School on weak foundations is like a house on poor foundations,” he emphasised.
