President Akufo-Addo’s recent statement dismissing calls for the Free SHS policy to be targeted, and urging those who can afford private school fees to send their children to private institutions has ignited significant public debate, with various civil society leaders and academics voicing concerns over the broader implications of such a stance.

Speaking at the Bar Conference, the President’s comment has been met with widespread criticism for its potential to further erode public education, which remains the backbone of Ghana’s education system.

Prominent among those voicing concerns is Kofi Bentil, Vice President of IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, who highlighted the risks inherent in the President’s message.

Mr Bentil, in a comprehensive analysis, pointed out that the call for the elite to shift their children to private schools mirrors a historical phenomenon that led to the degradation of Ghana’s public education system.

“According to Theo Acheampong Ofei, there’s a comment from the President to the effect that those who can afford should take their kids to private schools. He clearly has not studied the phenomenon which damned the so-called ‘SYTO’ schools”.
Kofi Bentil, Vice President of IMANI Centre for Policy and Education

According to Mr Bentil, public schools in Ghana, colloquially known as ‘SYTO’ schools, once produced almost all of the country’s intellectuals and elites, dating back to pre-independence through the mid-1970s.

He opined that public schools were the bedrock of quality education, and they thrived with strong advocacy from influential figures, many of whom had their own children enrolled in these institutions.

However, Mr Bentil stated that the narrative shifted dramatically when the elite began moving their children to international private schools.

“The flight of the elite from public schools resulted in the loss of critical advocacy to maintain and improve those institutions,” Mr Bentil remarked.

Mr Bentil pointed out that as the elite gradually abandoned public schools in favour of private institutions, public schools saw a marked decline in quality across all areas, leading to the erosion of standards that once made them formidable pillars of education in the country.

He mentioned that till today, even teachers who work in public schools opt to send their own children to private institutions, reflecting the depth of the quality decline at the basic education level.

Mr Bentil’s criticism of the President’s statement was sharp and direct. He emphasized that encouraging those who can afford it to abandon public schools would undoubtedly lead to their further deterioration.

“If anyone tells you the elite should leave and find private schools, he is simply asking for the abandonment of public schools,” Mr Bentil said, adding that the very survival of these institutions depends on maintaining advocacy from all sectors, particularly from those in positions of influence.

Calls to Preserve Public Education

The Vice President of the policy think-tank, IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, Kofi Bentil stressed that public education should be preserved and strengthened, as it serves the majority of Ghanaians.

He argued that advocating for the most influential members of society to withdraw their children from public schools undermines efforts to elevate the standard of education for the masses.

“People will surely pay for quality education wherever it will be found,” he noted, but abandoning public schools will only accelerate their deterioration.

Mr Bentil’s critique went further, characterizing the President’s remarks as “unsophisticated at best.” He argued that rather than promoting private schools as a solution for those who can afford it, there should be a renewed focus on maintaining and improving the quality of public education.

The preservation of high-quality public schools according to Mr Bentil is vital, not just for the majority who rely on them but for the overall health and equity of the country’s education system.

The concerns raised by Mr Bentil and other thought leaders tap into a broader debate about educational inequality in Ghana. While private schools have become increasingly popular among the affluent, public schools continue to serve the majority of Ghanaian students.

However, the disparities in resources, teaching standards, and outcomes between private and public schools are widening, with many fearing that the President’s stance could exacerbate this divide.

For advocates like Mr Bentil, the answer lies in strengthening, not abandoning, the public institutions that have educated generations of Ghanaians.