The Executive Director of the Institute for Education Studies, (IfEST) Dr. Peter Partey-Anti, has called for urgent dialogue on the future of Ghana’s educational system, emphasizing the need for a sustainable funding model for the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy.
Speaking during an interview with Roland Walker on the New Day show on TV3, Dr. Partey-Anti highlighted the critical issue of funding as the main challenge facing the policy, noting that the current reliance on limited resources such as the Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA) and the Government of Ghana’s fiscal allocations is unsustainable.
“99% of the challenges of the policy is funding. We know that anytime there are fiscal challenges within the government, we rely solely on the ABFA, which is a source that is not infinite. When there are challenges in the oil sector, it means that the money will not be readily available to support this important policy,” he stated on January 27.
Dr. Partey-Anti commended the government for addressing the recent food supply crisis in schools, describing it as an urgent issue.
He acknowledged President Mahama’s directive to the Chief of Staff to resolve the problem, as well as the interim measure allowing headmasters to procure food locally.
However, he stressed the importance of convening a national dialogue by the end of February to address broader issues, including sustainable funding and the management of resources in schools.
“I just hope that this will not go beyond February. By the end of February, we should start the conversation around the future of the educational system, focusing on all areas, especially the treatment in high schools, which has been a topical issue over the past eight years,” he said.
Dr. Partey-Anti also highlighted the need for diverse funding approaches, urging national consensus on a sustainable solution.
“It matters not the mode that you take. I think when the conversation is carried to the people of Ghana, they will agree on a certain mode by which we’ll be able to fund this policy. That would be the best way to ensure that everybody benefits,” he added.
The Free SHS policy, introduced in 2017, has faced persistent funding challenges, often resulting in delays in food supplies and other essential resources for schools.
As discussions continue, stakeholders, including Dr. Partey-Anti, emphasize the need for pragmatic solutions to ensure the long-term viability of the policy.
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