Kenyans, other African countries understudying Ghana’s free SHS- Education Minister

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Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum recently took to Lawson TV to trumpet the successes of Ghana’s Free Senior High School (SHS) initiative, addressing concerns and criticisms head-on.

The policy, often a subject of political debate, has faced pushback from the opposition, but Dr. Adutwum was resolute in defending its merits and potential impact.

“Critics of the Free SHS policy don’t fully understand its framework,” he asserted. “This initiative is transforming lives, and it’s important to recognize how it’s reshaping the educational landscape in Ghana.”

Drawing from his personal experiences as an educator in the United States, Dr. Adutwum shed light on the double-track system—a key component of the Free SHS program. While some view the system as a compromise due to infrastructural constraints, he argued otherwise, emphasizing its strategic design.

“I taught in a senior high school in the U.S., where we implemented a similar system to increase instructional hours. Students were placed on different tracks to ensure more time in the classroom without disrupting the academic calendar. It worked there, and it’s working here,” he said confidently.

The double-track system, introduced to accommodate the surge in enrollment from Free SHS, has often been a contentious topic. However, Dr. Adutwum passionately defended it as a solution, not a problem.

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“Let’s be clear: the double-track system means more hours in the classroom, not less. Students spend more time learning, which is the ultimate goal,” he explained. “Ghana isn’t just coping; we’re excelling. The system ensures that every child has a seat in school, regardless of economic background.”

Beyond the domestic debate, Ghana’s Free SHS policy has drawn international attention. Dr. Adutwum revealed that several African nations have visited Ghana to study the initiative, seeing it as a model for expanding access to education on the continent.

“Countries like Sierra Leone and Liberia have sent delegations to learn from us,” he shared with pride. “Even the Brookings Institution, a respected global think tank, has commended our efforts, encouraging others to follow Ghana’s lead.”

Yet, Dr. Adutwum acknowledged the challenges other nations face in replicating Ghana’s strides. “Many of these countries struggle with infrastructure, making it difficult to implement free secondary education at scale,” he noted. “But this doesn’t mean it’s unfeasible—it means bold leadership and innovative thinking are needed, just as we’ve done here.”

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