National Communication Director for Pre-Tertiary Education, Kingsley Anyimadu, says Ghana’s commitment to ensuring that every child has access to Senior High School (SHS) education has brought additional pressure on the country’s education system.
Speaking on Ahotor FM’s morning show in Accra on August 8, 2026, Mr. Anyimadu said the introduction of the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy has significantly expanded access to secondary education, but the increase in enrolment has also created challenges for schools, teachers and administrators.
He said the government has taken upon itself the responsibility of ensuring that every Ghanaian child gets the opportunity to attend SHS, irrespective of their family’s financial circumstances.
Mr. Anyimadu explained that one of the challenges associated with the SHS placement process has been the late submission of students’ data by some heads of basic schools.
He noted that although the government had indicated that the results would be released by the end of last month, some heads of basic schools had failed to submit the required data on time.
According to him, such delays can affect the placement process and create anxiety for parents and students waiting to know the schools to which they have been placed.
He therefore urged heads of basic schools and other stakeholders to submit students’ data accurately and on time to prevent unnecessary delays in the placement process.
Mr. Anyimadu also raised concerns about the strong preference for Category A Senior High Schools, saying Ghana must critically examine why parents place so much emphasis on particular schools.
He observed that some parents prefer private schools at the basic level and are willing to pay fees for their children, but when it comes to Senior High School, many of them prefer government schools, particularly Category A institutions.
He said the situation should prompt stakeholders to ask important questions about what makes certain schools more attractive and how the quality of education in other schools can be improved.
According to him, the country must ensure that schools outside the Category A classification are adequately resourced and that their teachers receive the necessary training and support.
He stressed that the quality of teachers plays a major role in determining the quality of education students receive.
Mr. Anyimadu further called for investments in infrastructure, teaching and learning materials and teacher development to enable all schools to provide quality education.
He also stressed that Ghana’s education system must go beyond preparing students only for the local economy.
“We are developing global citizens,” he said, explaining that students must be equipped with the knowledge, skills and competencies required to compete internationally.
He said the teaching of international languages such as English and French is important because language skills enable young people to communicate and compete beyond Ghana.
Mr. Anyimadu cautioned against allowing school categorisation to create the impression that students who attend schools outside Category A institutions cannot achieve similar success.
He pointed out that many professionals, including lawyers, doctors, broadcasters, teachers and journalists, have passed through various schools and gone on to make significant contributions to society.
He therefore urged government and education stakeholders to address the challenges confronting the education system and ensure that every child receives quality education regardless of the category of school they attend.
He maintained that the ultimate objective should be to produce confident, competent and globally competitive young people capable of contributing meaningfully to Ghana and the wider world.
Story by Stephen Kwaku Owusu Mintah — Ahotoronline, Accra.
