Catholic Bishops’ Conference Calls for Implementation of National Education Plan and Review of Free SHS

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference has urged the government to fully implement the National Education Strategic Plan (2018-2030) while safeguarding it from political interference.

Speaking at the National Catholic Education Forum in Koforidua, the President of the Conference, Most Reverend Matthew Gyamfi, emphasized the importance of adhering to the plan to ensure inclusive, high-quality education for all.

“Respect the National Education Strategic Plan (2018-2030) of the Ministry of Education and protect it from potential partisan manipulation for political advantage,” he stated.

He also called for the government to formalize its partnership with faith-based institutions by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in line with the Pre-Tertiary Act 2020 (Act 1049), which mandates collaboration between faith-based schools and the Ghana Education Service for efficient management.

Call for Free SHS Review

The Bishops’ Conference recommended a review of the Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy to clearly define the roles of both parents and the government.

They proposed:
-Setting a cut-off point for SHS admissions to address declining academic standards.
-Providing alternative pathways such as short-term skills training for students who do not qualify for SHS, SHTS, or TVET, along with remedial programs for those seeking second-cycle education.
– Reinstating the repetition of non-performing students in pre-tertiary schools to improve academic performance.
– increasing investment in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), with a 10-year target to address the current imbalance in resource allocation and prioritize vocational, technical, and science education.

Inclusion of Private Schools in Free SHS

The Bishops also called on the government to integrate private secondary schools into the Free SHS policy.

“Fulfill the commitment to placing private secondary schools under the Free SHS policy and provide the necessary funding to enable them to admit BECE graduates. This will ease the infrastructure burden on SHS and TVET institutions,” they urged.

Advocacy for Greater Representation

Given its significant role in education, the Catholic Church, which operates over 5,453 basic schools, 82 senior high schools, 41 TVET institutions, 4 special schools, 13 colleges of education, and 10 tertiary institutions, demanded permanent representation on the Ministerial Advisory Board of Education and the Ghana Education Council.

The Conference also requested that Catholic schools reserve at least 20% of their admissions for Catholic students to uphold their religious identity.

The forum was held under the theme: Catholic Education for Integral Development: Shaping a Resilient and Inclusive Ghana.