Kwasi Kwarteng, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Education Ministry, emphasized that the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy should be perceived as an investment rather than simply an expenditure.
He urged Ghanaians to recognize that like any investment, sustaining and improving the quality of the Free SHS policy requires significant resources. Kwarteng noted that many citizens view the policy solely in terms of its financial cost to the state, which has led to a lack of appreciation for its benefits.
Kwarteng highlighted that the Education Ministry prioritizes three pillars: Access, quality, and relevance. He stressed that these aspects are continuously evaluated to ensure their positive impact on the socio-economic development of the country. Kwarteng emphasized that the primary goal of government investment in the Free SHS policy is to increase access to secondary education, which has indeed been achieved since its inception.
He provided statistical evidence to support his argument, citing significant increases in enrollment rates compared to pre-Free SHS years. Kwarteng pointed out that before the policy, many students were unable to access higher education due to financial barriers, with a substantial percentage dropping out of school by the second year of senior high. However, with the implementation of Free SHS, access to education has expanded, addressing the fundamental purpose of the policy.
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“I have always insisted that it all boils down to how you see the policy, whether you see it as an investment policy or a policy of expenditure. If you see it as an investment, your narrative, your thinking, and your embracing of the policy will be different from how you see it when you consider it as an expenditure.
“I have heard sections of Ghanaians saying that other sectors of the economy probably are not doing well because they believe that a lot of money is being channeled into the Free SHS policy,” he said
Kwarteng reiterated that viewing the Free SHS policy as an investment in the nation’s future is crucial for understanding its long-term benefits. He emphasized that while the policy requires substantial financial resources, its positive impact on education accessibility and societal development far outweighs its costs.