Four big teacher unions in Ghana – the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Coalition of Concerned Teachers of Ghana, and Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) – are asking for a thorough review of the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy.
They also want more investment in basic education to solve the problems in the country’s education sector. During a meeting with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) team, led by former President John Mahama, the leaders of these unions talked about their concerns and hopes for the country’s education sector.
They discussed challenges related to teacher pay, the syllabus, and the impact of the Free SHS policy.
They stressed the importance of improving teaching quality, upgrading school infrastructure, and enhancing the well-being of both teachers and students.
The unions urged for more investment in basic schools and significant improvements, especially in the Free SHS program. They believe that the Free SHS policy needs a thorough review to fix its existing problems.
Moreover, the Teacher Unions stated their refusal to accept what they called “platform promises” from political leaders, referring to past instances of unkept pledges. They emphasized that politicians have often failed to fulfill their promises, and as a result, they are not willing to accept superficial or unfulfilled commitments from any political leadership.
About Free SHS
The Free Senior High School (SHS) program, introduced in Ghana, aims to make secondary education accessible to all. While the initiative has increased enrollment significantly, it faces challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, teacher shortages, and concerns about the quality of education. Teacher unions advocate for a comprehensive review of the program, urging for increased investment in basic education and substantial improvements, particularly within the Free SHS program, to address existing shortcomings. There is a need to enhance teaching quality, upgrade school infrastructure, and improve the overall well-being of both teachers and students to ensure the success and effectiveness of the Free SHS program.
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