Child Rights Int’l Says No to Parents Paying Free SHS Feeding

 Child Rights International has strongly warned against transferring the cost of feeding students under the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy to parents.

In a January 11, 2025 statement, the organization urged stakeholders to protect the Free SHS program’s integrity. They described the policy as a transformative initiative that has dramatically improved educational access in Ghana since its 2017 launch.

The group firmly rejected proposals requiring parents to provide food and essential supplies for students in senior high schools. They argued that such changes would undermine the core purpose of the Free SHS policy, which aims to eliminate financial barriers to education and promote inclusivity for all Ghanaian children.

Since its inception, the Free SHS program has removed major obstacles to secondary education by covering tuition, feeding, accommodation, and other costs. This social intervention has enabled millions of students, particularly from low-income families and underserved communities, to pursue secondary education.

The program’s success has been especially evident in rural areas, where high education costs once prevented many families from sending their children to school. It has led to increased enrollment, reduced dropout rates, and improved literacy levels nationwide.

Despite its achievements, the program has faced significant hurdles, including overcrowded classrooms, funding delays, and logistical challenges, especially in feeding students. These issues have sparked debates over the policy’s sustainability.

Child Rights International emphasized that reforms should address these challenges while preserving the program’s core benefits. The organization called on stakeholders to prioritize solutions that maintain education access for all Ghanaian children, rather than shifting the financial burden to parents.

Below is the statement.