The upcoming Free Senior High School (SHS) Bill has drawn criticism from the Minority in Parliament for what it sees as a dearth of thorough stakeholder consultation and input.

This week’s Cabinet meeting is scheduled to discuss the Free SHS Bill, 2024. The Ministry of Education (MoE) is currently drafting a measure that aims to give legal backing to the senior high school (SHS) system of free and mandatory education.

The measure would also suggest separating junior high school (JHS) from basic school and integrating it into secondary school, expanding secondary education to six years, according to information released by Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum last Friday.

The Minority in Parliament has criticized the impending Free Senior High School (SHS) Bill, citing what it considers to be a lack of comprehensive stakeholder participation and input.

The Free SHS Bill, 2024, will be the topic of discussion at this week’s Cabinet meeting. A bill to provide legal support for the free and compulsory education offered in senior high schools (SHS) is presently being drafted by the Ministry of Education (MoE).

According to information given last Friday by Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, the bill would also propose detaching junior high school (JHS) from basic school and incorporating it into secondary school, extending secondary education to six years.

“It is unfortunate that such a bill has not been subjected to rigorous stakeholder consultation and inputs. I think that is most unfortunate even as we wait to see the bill and examine its content in full so that we can see whether it meets the requirement that we all expected or not,” he stated.