Ghana's Free SHS programme to undergo quality and sustainability review

The Centre for Policy Scrutiny (CPS) is launching a structured review of Ghana’s Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme as it reaches its ninth year of implementation. The assessment will be presented during a public lecture scheduled for September 1, 2026, titled ‘Improved Access, Quality Questioned: A Report on 9 Years of Ghana’s Free SHS’.

While the policy has significantly increased secondary school enrolment since 2017, the CPS aims to move the national conversation beyond mere access. The review will investigate whether the rapid surge in students has been matched by adequate infrastructure, teaching resources, and learning materials. Key areas of inquiry include learning outcomes, the day-to-day student experience, and the long-term financial sustainability of the programme.

Emmanuel Kweku Obeng-Adjei, Head of Corporate Affairs at CPS, stated that the goal is not to label the programme a success or failure, but to examine evidence, identify gaps, and provide ideas to strengthen secondary education in the country.