Though many have lauded moves by government to implement the Free SHS Policy in September 2017, the Conference of Heads of Private Second Cycle Schools, (CHOPSS), is worried that the policy will eventually phase them out.
They argue that the policy will reduce the demand for enrollment in private Senior High Schools.
Government has announced that it will begin processes for the implementation of its free SHS policy this September. But speaking to Citi News, the Public Relations Officer of CHOPSS, Naphtali Kyei Baffour, said the policy when implemented will put them out of business.
“It is an undeniable fact that the private sector is the engine of growth for development. Therefore any policy that seeks to collapse the activities of private sector should be reconsidered.
That is why we believe that inasmuch as the [Free SHS] policy is very good as it seeks the well-being and interests of students, parents and Ghanaians as a whole, it is also imperative that as we sit, we look at factors that can help the private ones to be sustained.”
“Private schools sustain their existence from the mop up they get from candidates with aggregate 30 to whatever grade. Now it has been extended to 42 so our question now is; with the introduction of free SHS, we are yet to hear from government if they are going to the old system where the cutoff point will be pegged at 30 or they will still operate with the existing one like aggregate 40, 42.
If it still happens like that, then those who did not qualify for admission into public institutions that we relied on, now because it is free and they will still be qualified, it means that come two years, three years, four years, there will be no private school existing.”
While CHOPSS is worried that the introduction of the policy might push private schools out of business, some groups and political parties have expressed concerns over moves to use the Heritage Fund for the implementation of the policy.
But the Minister of Finance , Ken Ofori-Atta, on Friday indicated that, the fund will not be used to implement the policy. Speaking to Citi Business News after an event organized by Achimota School as part of its 90th anniversary, Mr. Ofori Atta insisted that government will not finance the project from the Heritage Fund, but promised that details for funding it will be provided in the budget.
“We are financing the Free SHS education without looking at the Heritage Fund. As far as I know the Senior Minister did not say we will finance the Free SHS with the Heritage Fund.
He alluded at looking at other options for us to be able to finance the Free SHS,” he said.
Source: Citifmonline.com
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Quite on the contrary, I will prefer my child to go to a quality SHS than free public SHS without quality. Just make sure you provide the best service and see. Everybody who can afford will be coming to you like happens with the basic schools.
University education is almost free but still private unis are thriving, are they not? Basic schools are almost free but private schools at the basic level are thriving, are they not? Please, the answer lies in innovation. Lets not try to kill this dream from this angle at all.
Please do not touch this subject from this angle at all. Try and innovate Currently, Accra has a number of Private Schools offering GCE and US-Syllabus based curricula. They are choked and admissions are very competitive. Try that and lower fees and compete. FREE SHS in Public Schools in non-negotiable
Inovate or ***barred word***, leizy minds!!
they would not go out of business. instead the private schools will be forced to reduce their exorbitant school fees and stop ripping off innocent parents
I pray for this program to succeed and liberate our masses out of ignorance. I good and selfless leader has come for Ghana
So because of your business and profit some brilliant kids must be left behind? How can some Ghanaians be so wicked and insensit*ve like that? Which means yhdy were comfortable with the ndc government destroying our education and they were making business out of that. How many are you and how many are the kids who are smart but no one to help them? For about 1/10% going out if business and 60% kids staying home which one is better? Free SHS will come on live. If you mean business you can compete with the government in on other way to make your business more attractive to the rich people,we can't neglect those brains to rot because of your business. The government will do it to help the poor and needy. You can go into another business but the kids have no where to go.Wicked,selfish and greedy people all around.
That is true but parents who will gain from free SHS out number private school owners.You can turn your schools into Hostels though.