The Free Senior High School (Free SHS) program has been given GH¢3.5 billion by the government, and a significant change in policy has been made to eliminate the cap on the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) in order to provide extra funding.
Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson made the announcement during the 2025 Budget Statement presentation, stating that the provision was intended to fill budget shortages in the Free SHS policy and enhance secondary school infrastructure.
“The government is removing the cap on GETFund to ensure sustainable financing for education, allowing more funds to flow directly into the education sector,” Dr. Forson said.
Overcrowding, poor infrastructure, and budget delivery delays have been problems for the Free SHS policy since it was first implemented. It is anticipated that removing the GETFund cap will free up more funds for:
•Increasing the number of classrooms and dorms in congested schools.
• Purchasing educational resources for pupils.
• Improving the hiring and training of teachers to raise the standard of education. Dr. Forson emphasized that the financial modification would improve the program’s execution and restated the government’s commitment to Free SHS. “This funding will guarantee that no Ghanaian child is left behind, as the program has expanded access to secondary education for thousands of students,” he told Parliament. Long-standing infrastructural deficiencies in numerous senior high schools throughout the nation are also anticipated to be addressed by the GH¢3.5 billion budget.
Dr. Forson said that some of the funds would be used to build more school buildings and dorms, acknowledging worries about crowding and poor amenities.
He gave lawmakers his word that “the government is committed to expanding facilities in heavily populated schools and recognizes the infrastructure challenges.”
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