Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Minister of Education, has responded to recent criticisms of the government’s flagship Free Senior High School (SHS) program. Speaking to the nation about the current state of education, Dr. Adutwum highlighted the positive impacts of the policy, particularly improvements in key academic subjects.
Addressing claims that Free SHS has negatively affected educational outcomes, Dr. Adutwum questioned the validity of such assertions. He expressed disbelief at the criticism, asking rhetorically, “How has Free SHS destroyed the educational system?” He emphasized that the program has led to significant advancements and better performance in crucial areas of education.
Dr. Adutwum’s remarks come amid ongoing debates about the effectiveness of the Free SHS initiative, which was introduced to provide universal access to senior high education. The minister’s defense underscores his confidence in the program’s success and its positive influence on Ghana’s education sector.
Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum contended that providing educational opportunities to underprivileged students should not be seen as detrimental. He emphasized that the inclusion of students from poorer backgrounds should be viewed positively rather than as a negative development.
“Now that the less privileged have the chance to attend school, it’s perceived as a problem simply because they are present. We need to consider everyone’s situation and evaluate the data objectively,” he stated.
To support his position, Dr. Adutwum presented compelling statistics demonstrating the positive effects of the Free SHS policy. His data highlighted notable improvements in various educational metrics, reinforcing his argument that the program has been beneficial to the overall education system.
Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum highlighted significant improvements in student performance since the implementation of the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy. He pointed out that in 2015, only 45.2% of students achieved a credit in English Language. By 2023, this percentage had increased to 73.11%, with students earning grades ranging from A1 to C6.
Similar progress was observed in other core subjects. For example, the pass rate in Integrated Science rose from 28.7% in 2015 to 66.82%, while Mathematics improved from 32.4% to 62.23%. Dr. Adutwum emphasized that since the first cohort of Free SHS graduates in 2020, no subject’s pass rate has fallen below 50%.
He praised the efforts of Ghanaian headmasters and teachers, recognizing their dedication and resilience, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic. “I congratulate the headmasters and teachers of Ghana for their hard work and commitment. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, they continued to support their students effectively,” he stated.
