A Rejoinder: The proposal to limit free education to only day students in Ghana.

The article highlights the proposal to limit free education to only day students and day schools. The author argues that such a policy would be discriminatory towards students from rural and remote areas, as well as those from low-income families who cannot afford to pay for boarding facilities. Implementing a scholarship approach would be a more effective way to allocate resources and ensure all students have access to a high-quality education. The author also proposes identifying children from low-income families through community-based identification, means-testing, school-based identification, and geographic targeting. Finally, the article argues that the government should involve parents in supporting the sustainability of the free education policy.

It is an open secret that the current form of free education has many challenges. Even with these challenges, one can tell that it has increased access to education, especially among many rural people. Though with quality challenges, among others. On March 4, 2024, a former finance minister (Seth Terkper) argued that Free education should be limited to only day students. He referenced advanced countries and added that none operate a free education policy for boarding students. Read the full article here: Limit Free SHS to day students - Seth Terkper urges programme review - MyJoyOnline.

The author shares a different opinion on why free education should not be limited to day students/schools.

Discrimination against Rural and Remote Areas

Limiting free education to only day students/schools would be discriminatory towards students who live in rural or remote areas. These students often must travel long distances to get to school, and sometimes, no day schools are available in their area. As a result, they would effectively deny access to education, which is a fundamental right for all children. Ghana's government is responsible for ensuring that all children have access to education, regardless of their geographic location. Limiting free education to only day students would violate this responsibility. It would create a two-tier education system where only children in urban areas can access quality education. We all know that most boarding schools are grade A and B schools. For instance, a student from Yunyoo in the northeast Region who gains admission into Achimota Senior High School would be denied because the parents cannot afford to pay the cost of accommodation and daily transportation if the child is admitted as a day student because of the free education.

Discrimination against Low-Income Families

Another consequence of limiting free education to only day students would be discrimination against students from low-income families who cannot afford to pay for boarding facilities. It would create a further two-tier system, where only children from wealthy families would have access to boarding schools and the opportunities they offer. Education is a powerful tool for social mobility and breaking the cycle of poverty. Limiting free education to only day students would prevent many children from low-income families from accessing the education they need to improve their lives and communities. It is equally important to add that most day schools in Ghana are category D schools. It means that children from low-income families will no longer have access to boarding schools since their parents cannot afford to pay the school fees. If for nothing, the current system has made it possible for children from poor backgrounds to attend grade A schools, which hitherto were reserved for the rich. We should never go back to the days of the old days when only rich children could attend Grade A and B schools. The results of the West African Examination Council show that most schools that do very well are boarding schools. Limiting free education to only day schools will mean sending these children to schools where they will most likely fail.

Limited Opportunities for Special Needs Education

The former minister should have told us whether the new proposal would include Special needs schools. Limiting free education to only day schools would also limit the opportunities for students who require special needs education, as these facilities are often only available in boarding schools. Special needs education is a vital service for children with disabilities, and limiting access to it would be a clear violation of their rights. The government of Ghana has made significant progress in recent years in improving access to special needs education. However, limiting free education to only day students would undo much of this progress and prevent many children with disabilities from accessing the education they need to thrive.

The scholarship approaches.

I benefited from the Northern Scholarship instituted by Ghana's first president (Dr Kwame Nkrumah). The scholarship had its challenges. Because of the corruption in the system, non-northerners were on the scholarship, and people who had never seen cocoa were on the cocoa scholarship meant for children of cocoa farmers. However, it worked better than the current free education system.

One suggestion for the government to improve the free education policy is to implement a scholarship approach. This would involve allocating funds to students who 1. demonstrate academic excellence and 2. have financial need.

There are still many financial barriers that prevent students from accessing quality education. These barriers include uniforms, textbooks, transportation, and other school-related expenses. For students from low-income families, these costs can be prohibitive and prevent them from attending school regularly or performing well academically. Scholarships can alleviate these financial burdens and ensure that all students have equal access to education, regardless of their financial situation. By providing targeted support to students with financial need, scholarships can guarantee that they can attend school regularly, obtain necessary materials, and achieve academic success. Additionally, scholarships can help reduce the economic disparities in Ghana by providing increased opportunities for students from marginalized communities. Overall, scholarships are essential for ensuring that all students have access to quality education, regardless of their financial background.

By providing targeted support to those requiring it most, the government can ensure that students receive the necessary resources to succeed. Additionally, scholarships can incentivize students to pursue specific fields of study that are in high demand or have a shortage of skilled workers. For instance, students should NOT pay fees for technical and vocational skills and STEM courses. This approach would improve the quality of education and ensure that students prepare for the workforce. Overall, a scholarship approach could be a more effective way to allocate resources and guarantee that all students can access a high-quality education.

?How to identify children from low-income families.

Identifying children from low-income families in Ghana can be challenging as no centralized database captures all families' income levels. However, the state can use several methods to identify children from low-income families: 1. Community-based identification involves working with local leaders, teachers, and community members to identify children from low-income households. These individuals typically understand the economic situation of families in their communities and can help identify those who may require financial assistance. 2. Means-testing: Means-testing involves assessing the income and assets of families to determine their eligibility for financial assistance. This approach can be time-consuming and expensive, but it ensures that resources get to the most needed. 3. School-based identification: Junior High Schools can also play a role in identifying children from low-income families. Schools can identify children who may require financial assistance by collecting information on parents' income and occupation during registration. 4. Geographic targeting: Finally, geographic targeting focuses on specific areas of the country with high poverty levels. It is an open secret that children from specific regions, districts, and communities are often from low-income backgrounds. The Ghana Statistical Service, the Ghana Identification Authorities, and the Livelihood Enhancement Against Poverty program can help the scholarship secretariat identify children from low-income families for scholarships. Students who excel in certain areas at the final Junior High School Examination should get scholarships regardless of family background. For instance, those who receive the presidential award after Junior High get a scholarship. Targeting resources in these areas makes it possible to ensure that children from low-income families receive the support they need. Combining these methods may be the most effective way to identify children from low-income families in Ghana. By working together, community leaders, schools, and government agencies can ensure that all children have access to the resources they need to succeed in boarding or day school.

Parent Teachers Association support.

The government should accept that declaring everything accessible in the current free education policy has not helped, and the challenges identified by several system actors in education need consideration. Parents should contribute by providing electricity, books, uniforms, and the cost of feeding. Asking parents to contribute towards the sustainability of the free education policy does not imply that the policy has failed. The government fears that allowing parents to contribute would amount to policy failure. NO, IT DOES NOT IMPLY THAT THE FREE EDUCATION HAS FAILED. The time to bring parents to support the sustainability of the free education policy is now.?

Conclusion

In conclusion, limiting free education to only day students is a misguided policy that would negatively affect many students in Ghana. Education is a fundamental right that should be accessible to all, regardless of their background or geographic location. Ghana's government is responsible for ensuring that all children have access to education, and limiting free education to only day schools would violate this responsibility. It is time for those against the current free education policy to work towards ensuring that all children have access to the education they need to succeed without limiting it to day students.

Stephen Konde

A Social Development Worker

[email protected]

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