Prominent educationist Anis Haffar has criticised the current implementation of Ghana’s Free Senior High School (SHS) programme, arguing that wealthy parents should continue to pay their children’s school fees instead of relying on the state.
Speaking to Nana Kwedu Aduah on Bullet TV’s Noon Target, Mr Haffar described it as “ridiculous” that families who could afford education expenses suddenly stop paying when their children reach secondary school.
“It makes no sense whatsoever,” he said. “There are people who pay for their children all the way through primary school, and now that they are in secondary school, they stop? The challenge for us now is how we take care of the people who are not privileged in society while those who are privileged account for the cost of their own children.”
Mr Haffar, who has worked extensively across Ghana, highlighted stark disparities in access to education.
He noted that in areas such as Wa, Bolgatanga, Tamale, and the Shama District, some families struggle to afford basic necessities like food and shoes, making state intervention critical.
His comments add to ongoing debates about the sustainability of the Free SHS policy, which has faced both praise for increasing access to education and criticism over funding concerns.
