The Effect of Free Senior High School Policy on the Lives of Parents and Wards in Ghana

Matey, Juabin (2020): The Effect of Free Senior High School Policy on the Lives of Parents and Wards in Ghana. Published in: International Research Journal of Multidisciplinary Scope (IRJMS) , Vol. 1, No. Special Issue 2 (28 November 2020): pp. 27-36.

Abstract

The free senior high school policy is one of best social and economic intervention policies that openly affect both parents and students of senior high schools. Parents and guardians especially, have been left off the hook of their economic and financial burden. This study therefore looks at the effect of introducing the free senior high school policy on the economic and social lives of parents and students respectively. Data were obtained from three hundred and thirty six (336) participants. A correlational cross-sectional descriptive design was used. Questionnaires were administered onto parents of wards in three senior high schools in the North East and Upper East Regions of Ghana. The study finds the introduction of the free senior high school policy as a relief to the financial burden of parents, especially guardians from rural and peri-rural settlements. Not just that, a few other public members who are fortunate, can now keep body and soul together through employment creation. Challengingly enough, there was a lack of adequate stakeholder consultation, hence saddled with implementation shortfalls. Delay in the disbursement of funds for feeding and learning materials presented yet another problem. It is important that governments find sustainable sources of funding the educational system and also ensure the double-track system is regularised into a single-track by expanding academic facilities and employing additional skilled and unskilled labour.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Free Senior High School Education, Operationalisation, Policy, Parents
• Subjects: I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I3 - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty; I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I3 - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty > I31 - General Welfare, Well-Being; I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I3 - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty > I38 - Government Policy ; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs

References

REFERENCES

(1) Alchian A.A. The economic and social impact of free tuition, Liberty Press,Indianapolis. 1977.

(2) Mensah D.K.D. Teachers’ perspective on implementation of the double track senior high school system in Ghana, International Journal of Emerging Trends in Social Science. 2019; 5 (2), 47-56, 2019, DOI: 10.20448/2001.52.47.56.

(3) Botchway J. Education: Disadvantages of the double track system. 2019.https://newsghana24.com/education- disadvantages-of-the-doubletrack-system/

(4) Nsiah D. Free education in Ghana: Advantages and disadvantages. 18th November,2019;.accessed from https://yen.com.gh/108674-freeeducation-ghana- advantages-disadvantages.html

(5) Okrah B.D. Financial benefits of free SHS policy to parents and economy. 4 October 2017. https://yen.com.g /108674-free-education-ghana advantages disadvantages.html

(6) Adomonline.com. Double tracking system; a recipe for social crises - Dr Yielpieri.Thursday, 26 July 2018 https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive /Double tracking-system-a-recipe-for-social-crises-Dr- Yielpieri-672125

(7) Adu-Gyamfi S, Donkoh W.J, Addo A.A. Educational reforms in Ghana: Past and present. Journal of Education and Human Development.2016; 5(3), 158-172.

(8) Asumadu E. Challenges and prospects of the Ghana free senior high school policy: The case of SHS in Denkyembour District, University of Ghana. 2019.

(9) UNESCO Global Monitoring Report: The Role of the Organization and Social Context of Schools. 2005. http://portal.org/education.

(10) Psacharopoulos G. Time trends of the returns to education: Cross national evidence. Economics of Education Review. 1989; 8(3), 225-231.

(11)Gold KM.Schools in: The history of summer education in American public schools. New York: Peter Lang. 2002.

(12) Ayamga E. Double track system has caused 1,433 teenage Pregnancies Minority. 2019.

(13) Fraenkel J.R., Wallen NE. How to design and evaluate research in education, 2003. (5th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Publishing Co.

(14) Bushman B.J, Huesmann L.R. Effects of televised violence on aggression. 2001. In D.Singer & J. Singer (Eds.),Handbook of children and the media, 223–254, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

(15) Saunders M, Lewis P, Thornhill A, Research methods for business students. 2012.6th ed. Harlow, Essex: Pearson Education Limited

(16) Mugenda O.M, Mugenda AG. Research methods: Quantitative and qualitative Approaches, 2003. Acts Press, Nairobi- Kenya.

(17) Cronbach L J. Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests.1951; 16(3), 297-334, Psychometrika.