Ghana Launches Free High School Education

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Education at the secondary high school level is now free in Ghana.

President Nana Akufo-Addo announced the launch of the program Tuesday, calling it a necessary investment in the nation’s future workforce.

The response was enthusiastic, with parents and students forming long lines at public schools around Accra this week to register before classes open September 18.

The West Africa Secondary School expects to admit close to 700 new students this year.

Freshman Charity Oduro was excited that she now has a chance to study business.

“My parents don’t have money so, yes, I’m going for free education,” she said while standing in line to sign up.

Ghana introduced free compulsory education at the primary and junior high school levels in 1995 as required by the constitution, but implementation took time. It wasn’t until 2014 that the World Bank said Ghana had achieved near-universal access at the primary level.

Photo courtesy of Dominic Chavez.

Source: The Voice of America (link opens in a new window)

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