Free SHS Is Here to Stay: Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu Outlines Pillars for Reviewing and Strengthening Secondary Education | Discuss Ghana

Minister for Education Haruna Iddrisu has reaffirmed that the flagship Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy remains a permanent pillar of Ghana’s public education system, emphasizing that ongoing government review efforts are designed to refine operational efficiency, ensure sustainable financing, and raise academic standards.

Addressing stakeholders during discussions on secondary education financing, the Education Minister clarified that President John Dramani Mahama’s directive to review the policy focuses on addressing structural bottlenecks rather than curtailing access.

“[Free SHS] has come to stay, but with some commitments to tighten and improve it,” Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu stated. “Our goal is to ensure adequate, predictable financing, eliminate food supply disruptions, address infrastructure deficits, and guarantee that access is paired with uncompromised educational quality.”

Core Areas Targeted Under the Policy Review

The Education Ministry’s review framework centers on three primary operational pillars:

Financing & Sustainable Funding: Realigning institutional funding sources—including GETFund allocations—to balance secondary school feeding costs with core investments in basic foundational learning and infrastructure.

School Feeding & Logistics Management: Restructuring food procurement and logistics management to prevent recurring stock shortages, ensuring consistent supply chains for boarding institutions across the nation.

Infrastructure & Quality Assurance: Expanding classroom blocks and dormitory facilities to reduce congestion, while bolstering teacher deployment, STEM initiatives, and learning materials at the secondary level.

Balancing Equity with Quality Delivery

While political debates surrounding education expenditure continue in Parliament, Minister Iddrisu reiterated that the administration’s approach prioritizes equity and data-driven governance.

By systematically reviewing fiscal allocations and administrative oversight, the Ministry aims to safeguard universal access to secondary education while strengthening long-term learning outcomes for Ghanaian students.