Dr. Charles Aheto-Tsegah, a former Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), has proposed urgent reforms to the management of Senior High Schools (SHSs) in Ghana, particularly regarding student feeding costs.
He suggested that both boarding and day students should contribute to their meal expenses to ease the government’s financial burden, which has often led to inconsistencies in funding student meals.
Speaking on Face to Face with Umaru Sanda Amadu, Dr. Aheto-Tsegah also stressed the importance of infrastructural reforms in SHSs to address overcrowding, which poses health risks and hinders effective learning.
“Reducing the focus on boarding schools is key. That’s why former President Mahama’s E-block initiative was crucial—promoting day schools closer to communities,” he stated.
He added, “Feeding day students is costly. If they want to be fed, they must pay. Boarders should also pay for their food as part of school fees. The government can then identify and support students in genuine financial need.”
Dr. Aheto-Tsegah also advocated for a review of the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) to prioritize proximity-based school placements, which could reduce costs and improve the efficiency of the Free SHS policy.
