Free SHS Mass Produced Graduates Worsening Unemployment Situation …Asantehene

The Overlord of Ashanti, Otumfuor Osei Tutu ll has reiterated that while the government’s free senior high school program has widened access to many Ghanaian children, the opportunity costs are dire.

Addressing academia at the University of Memphis, the Asantehene pointed out that the program has brought huge strain on the public purse and also left many mass-produced SHS graduates stranded without jobs because of the lack of job avenues.

“Now the current government has introduced free education up to senior high school which now ensures all Ghanaian children, from whatever background enjoy free education,” the traditional ruler stated.

“Considering the value of education to the nation, this must be one of the boldest policies in the history of the nation. But it also brings its challenges; it puts a huge strain on the national budget and it raises further challenge about the creation of jobs for the increasing number of graduates,” he said.

The Asantehene’s observation adlibs concerns by many, including former University of Ghana Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ernest Aryeetey that while the free SHS program is good, its implementation leaves much to be desired.

In a hurry to score political points, the government had in 2017, set aside a progressively free version of the program that the Mahama government had started and bulldozed into place the Akufo-Addo version of free SHS.

In its hurry, the new government did not even pilot the program.

Meanwhile, Otumfuor said the priority that his reign has personally given education has also been yielding great results.

“When we ascended the golden stool 23 years ago, we proclaimed education as the ultimate priority of our reign. In furtherance of our priority, we established a foundation to support the education of children from poor backgrounds. It has become so far, the largest private education intervention in the country’s history and has provided for students who would have otherwise been deprived of basic education. Among them, persons who have risen to serve as Ministers of State and justices of the courts.”

He called for more collaboration between Ghana and the US and between the Memphis University and Universities in Ghana.