Don’t impose additional burdens on families- CRI

The Executive Director of Child Rights International (CRI), Mr Bright Appiah, has called on government not to impose additional financial burdens on families whose children are beneficiaries of the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy.

The call was in reaction to concerns over proposals suggesting that parents should bear additional costs related to the Free SHS policy, including expenses for food and accommodation.

He argues that such measures undermine the policy’s fundamental principles of equity, inclusivity, and universal access to secondary education.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Mr Bright Appiah, CRI emphasised that the Free SHS policy was designed to eliminate financial barriers to education, ensuring that all children have equal opportunities.

“Requiring parents to shoulder feeding and accommodation costs, according to him, introduces inequalities and contradicts the policy’s original intent,” Mr Appiah stated.

He underscored that while logistical challenges in implementing Free SHS persist, it is the responsibility of the government and implementing authorities to resolve these issues, not parents.

He called for direct engagement between stakeholders and the government to address any operational or systemic flaws.

Highlighting Ghana’s commitment to international child rights standards, including the Children’s Act and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, he reiterated that policies affecting children must prioritise their well-being.

Mr Appiah called on stakeholders to refrain from actions that could deprive students of essential needs like food and accommodation, reaffirming that every child has a right to education without impediments.

“As stakeholders we have the mandate to collaborate and find solutions that would protect and enhance Free SHS policy to secure a brighter future for Ghanaian children and the nation as a whole,” he said.

Mr Appiah reaffirmed CRI’s dedication to safeguarding children’s rights and ensuring that educational policies do not compromise access to education.

By Agnes Opoku Sarpong