Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, Member of Parliament for Assin South and former Deputy Education Minister under the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has strongly defended the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy, calling it one of the most impactful initiatives in Ghana’s history.
Speaking during an interview on GHOne TV’s State of Affairs with Lantam Papanko, Rev. Fordjour highlighted the achievements of the policy while acknowledging the challenges faced during its implementation.
“Free SHS was creditably implemented. Of course, the best policy that has ever been implemented in any part of the world will be that policy that had in itself challenges that were visible,” he stated.
Rev. Fordjour explained that the challenges encountered during the implementation phase were expected in a policy of such magnitude. He emphasized the need for continuous adjustments to maximize its objectives, pointing to the controversial double-track system as a necessary measure to ensure inclusivity.
“When you have only 830,000 people who are able to enter the three streams of senior high school and technical institutions, and data indicates that over 150,000 more have to stay home due to lack of space, it becomes a systemic barrier,” he said.
“Removing that barrier ensured that everybody had the opportunity to realize their potential and contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic development of our nation.”
Rev. Fordjour revealed that significant investments were made to expand educational infrastructure between 2017 and 2024. This included the construction of over 2,500 facilities such as classrooms, dormitories, laboratories, and dining halls. These developments, he noted, were crucial in accommodating the increased student enrollment under the Free SHS policy.
As a result, the policy more than doubled enrollment in senior high schools and technical institutions, increasing the number from 830,000 to 1.5 million students.
“If you visit our senior high schools, STEM schools, and technical schools, you’ll find that enrollment from Form 1 to Form 3 has grown significantly. We’ve built a critical mass of skilled students who will contribute meaningfully to our socio-economic development,” Rev. Fordjour added.
