Haruna Iddrisu, Ghana’s newly appointed Minister of Education, has called for a comprehensive review of the data concerning the number of beneficiaries of the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme.

In his first official visit to the Ministry on January 22, 2025, following his swearing-in by President John Dramani Mahama, Iddrisu stressed the need for accurate data to inform future policy decisions and reforms.

“One of the first issues we must address is the validity of the statistics regarding the number of Ghanaians benefiting from Free Senior High School,” Iddrisu stated.

The Minister pointed to discrepancies between reported figures, highlighting his own research, which suggests that around 3.9 million students have benefitted from the programme. This contrasts with official public records, including parliamentary reports, which claim the number is as high as 5.1 million.

“I am not asserting that my figure is correct, but the 5.1 million figure is misleading. After reviewing data from 2017 to 2023, I am convinced the number of students benefiting from Free SHS is no more than 3.9 million. However, I need to validate this data to proceed,” Iddrisu explained.

He clarified that his goal is not to discredit existing records, but to establish a reliable baseline for future policy development.

As part of his efforts, Iddrisu announced plans to hold a National Education Conference aimed at evaluating Ghana’s education system and implementing necessary reforms. The validation of Free SHS data will play a crucial role in these discussions.

The Minister’s focus on data accuracy highlights his commitment to evidence-based policymaking, as Ghana seeks to enhance its education sector.

Source:TheDotNews