The free Senior High School(SHS) policy begins in all public senior high schools across the country today Monday, September 11, 2017.
The policy which is to cost 3.6 billion Ghana Cedis each year was a campaign promise made by the NPP under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo during both 2012 and 2016 elections.
The Computerized School Selection Placement System which places students into the various Senior high schools experienced a lot of challenges, with error notices meeting most parents and students who have been trying since September 1 to access the website for placement. A statement signed by the Minister of education, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh stated that government had extended the deadline for placement for the fourth time to enable students who qualify to go through the process duly. The deadline was extended to September 30, 2017.
A total of 424,092 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates qualified for placement in SHSs and technical institutes this year and as such will enjoy the benefits of the policy.
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About 36,849 candidates were not placed because they scored Grade 9 in either English Language or Mathematics.
Government, Friday released 240 million which represents over 50% of the estimated funds for the flagship education programme. The Deputy Finance Minister, Abena Osei Asare said government remains committed to the free SHS policy and are putting in visible efforts by releasing more than half of the funds to the schools, instead of the initial 20 per cent it had planned to do. She added that the rest of the funds would be released in due course.
Read also: free SHS: Govt releases GH¢240 million
 free SHS funds to be released to schools on Friday
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