FREE SHS: Pay For Your Kids If You Want To - Dep Education Minister

The issue of whether rich parents should pay their children's school fees at the Senior High School level after the implementation of the free SHS policy has reemerged.

Some Ghanaians are of the view that rich parents must be made to pay for the education of their children under the free SHS programme to help save the policy from collapsing.

If you may recall, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta courted controversy when he made similar comments last year.

Speaking on the subject of funding, the Finance Minister said perhaps the latter school of thought may be the way forward in the long term. He explained that there is no need giving free education to students whose parents can afford it, suggesting the Free SHS programme should cover only those who cannot afford to pay for the educational expenses of their wards. 

"On the issue of free education, it may be that there has to be changes about the way we are administering it. I can't take my child to Achimota School or Odorgono and leave him or her there and don't pay anything when I can pay for 10 people,” Mr. Ofori-Atta said on Citi TV's Point of View Programme at the time.

Touching on the issue during a discussion on Monday's edition of 'Kokrokoo', the Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Adutwum said even though there are no regulations, parents who can afford can willingly pay for their kids.

"If you take your child to school and you write a cheque to help the free SHS policy, we will be grateful; if someone wants to pay, why not? we will appreciate. I will personally call to thank you," he told Kwami Sefa Kayi.

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