Catholic Church Calls for Free SHS Review

The Catholic Church has called on the government to review the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy to address inefficiencies and ensure sustainable funding for quality education in Ghana.

This was a key resolution from the Second Catholic National Education Forum held in Koforidua, where Catholic bishops, educators, and policymakers gathered to discuss the future of education in the country.

While the church acknowledged the positive impact of the Free SHS policy, which has increased enrolment and expanded access to secondary education, concerns were raised over the double-track system, inadequate infrastructure, lack of essential learning materials, and declining discipline in schools.

Church leaders emphasised the need for a structured approach to improve the quality of education under Free SHS.

A statement by the church urged the government to “review the Free SHS/SHTS policy to address questions on the respective responsibilities of parents and government.”

The church also recommended reinstating parents’ responsibility to contribute to their children’s education and reviving the Parent-Teacher Association to protect the rights of teachers and parents in shaping the education system.

In a statement signed by the President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, the church emphasised that while free education is a noble initiative, parents should be encouraged to contribute to non-tuition costs like school feeding, infrastructure maintenance, and extracurricular activities without causing financial hardship.

“The Free SHS policy must be structured in a way that balances access with quality,” the communique stated. “We believe that a well-planned review will allow for greater efficiency, better discipline, and the active involvement of parents in shaping their children’s education.”

The church also recommended stronger collaboration between the government and mission schools, urging the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise the church’s role in managing Catholic schools, especially in staffing and administration.

As the 2025/2026 academic year approaches, the Catholic Church hopes that these recommendations will be taken seriously to address challenges within the Free SHS system and improve the overall quality of education in Ghana.

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