Haruna Iddrisu demands validation of Free SHS beneficiary data

The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has called for a thorough validation of data concerning the number of beneficiaries of Ghana’s Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme.

During his first official visit to the Ministry on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, following his swearing-in by President John Dramani Mahama, Iddrisu emphasized the need for accurate figures to guide policy discussions and reforms.

“One of the very first major issues the country must interrogate is the statistical validity of how many Ghanaians have benefited from Free Senior High School,” he stated.

The Minister noted discrepancies between reported figures, citing his research, which suggests that around 3.9 million students have benefited from the programme. This figure, however, contrasts with public records, including parliamentary reports, which place the number as high as 5.1 million.

“I am not saying mine is right, but 5.1 million was misleading because I have looked at the numbers from 2017 to 2023, and I am convinced that the number of students who have benefited from the Free SHS policy stands at not more than 3.9 million. But I need a validation of that data to begin with,” he explained.

Iddrisu clarified that his intention is not to discredit existing records but to establish a credible baseline for future policy decisions.

He also announced plans to convene a National Education Conference to assess the state of education in Ghana and develop actionable reforms. The validation of Free SHS data, he said, will be a critical starting point for these discussions.

The Minister’s focus on data integrity underscores his commitment to evidence-based policymaking as Ghana seeks to strengthen its education sector.