The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced major reforms to the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy, including the scrapping of the double-track system and the expansion of the policy to cover private schools.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Mr. Iddrisu explained that the policy expansion aims to accommodate more students in secondary education.
“We have decided to expand the intake of Free SHS to private schools in Ghana,” he stated. “This means that when the computerised placement system is used, 150,000 students will be placed in private senior high schools, in addition to those in public schools.”
The government plans to phase out the double-track system within the next two to three years, with significant investment in infrastructure to support the transition.
“Our goal is to end the double-track system, and this will require substantial infrastructure investment,” Mr. Iddrisu stressed.
He also revealed plans to extend Free SHS benefits beyond secondary education to include tertiary students.
“We want to ensure that every student in tertiary education benefits from the same support provided at the secondary level,” he added, reaffirming the government’s commitment to accessible education.
Meanwhile, Mr. Iddrisu has commissioned an audit into the controversial Senior High School (SHS) Wi-Fi contract, with findings expected to be made public within two to three weeks.
“I have requested that the audit findings be publicly disclosed within the next two to three weeks,” he stated.
He emphasized the government’s priority in improving internet access for students and hinted at considering local companies such as Starlink for the rollout of broadband infrastructure.
“What is important is that students have reliable internet connectivity. If a Ghanaian partner, such as Starlink, can help achieve this, we are open to such collaborations,” he noted.
The Minister confirmed that there are no plans to renew the previous Wi-Fi contract, as the process will undergo a full IT audit before being publicly advertised.