Boarders must pay boarding, feeding fees — Education forum stakeholders

Stakeholders Propose Boarding and Feeding Fees for SHS Boarders.

At the ongoing National Education Forum in Sunyani, education stakeholders have suggested a revision of the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy. 

They propose that boarding students should pay for their accommodation and meals, while only day students should continue to benefit from free education.

According to the stakeholders from the Bono, Bono East, Ahafo, and Western North regions, this adjustment would ease the financial burden on the government and allow for greater investment in other areas of the education sector. 

Their recommendations were based on group discussions across five key areas: infrastructure (including physical structures and educational technology), quality education delivery, education financing, regulatory and accountability systems, and data-driven decision-making.

Diverse Representation and Key Recommendations

Participants included representatives from academia, civil society organizations, student groups, parent associations, teacher unions, vice-chancellors, and education directors. Among their proposals was the suggestion for SHSs to engage in agricultural activities to generate additional revenue and supplement student feeding costs.

They also called on the government to operationalize existing scholarship schemes, particularly for tertiary students, emphasizing that many programs exist only in name and are not accessible. Financial hardship, they noted, remains a major obstacle for many students and significantly affects their academic performance.

Addressing Infrastructure Challenges

The forum highlighted the urgent need for improved educational infrastructure. Stakeholders expressed concern about over 5,000 deteriorating school facilities, including "schools under trees," and an estimated one million school furniture deficit. Many students, they noted, are forced to sit on the floor due to a lack of desks.

To address this, they urged the government to decentralize furniture procurement and involve local artisans and community leaders in producing school furniture. They also called for improved teacher working conditions and the provision of on-campus accommodation to attract and retain qualified educators.

Improving Teacher Recruitment and Incentives

The participants advocated for a decentralized teacher recruitment process, allowing heads of institutions to be directly involved. They argued that the current centralized system limits the ability of school leaders to select suitable candidates.

They also recommended that the government provide attractive incentives to encourage teachers to remain in the profession and perform effectively.

Enhancing Technology and Sanitation

Stakeholders stressed the importance of expanding access to technology in educational institutions and urged the Ministry of Education to prioritize digital infrastructure and the integration of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) education.

Concerns were also raised about inadequate sanitation facilities in schools, particularly the absence of female-friendly washrooms, which negatively impacts female students. Participants called on the government to address these issues promptly to foster a healthier learning environment.

Strengthening School Security

To enhance campus safety, the forum recommended the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and the establishment of police posts on school premises. 

This, they argued, would create a secure environment where students could focus on their studies without fear.

The forum concluded with a call for bold reforms to address long-standing challenges in the education sector, urging the government to adopt and implement their recommendations for a more sustainable and equitable education system.