Challenges And Prospects Of The Ghana Free Senior High School (Shs) Policy: The Case Of Shs In Denkyembour Distric

ABSTRACT This research was undertaken to examine the prospects and challenges hindering the implementation of “Free Senior High School Policy (FSHSP)” in the Denkyembour District in Ghana. The main rationale for this study comes about as an intervention by the government of Ghana in 2016 to increase enrolment of students in secondary school to ensure “equal access to secondary education” by all students in the country. Denkyembour was selected as the location of the study because it is one of the Districts in Ghana implementing the educational policy. To achieve its objective, the study adopted the qualitative research approach to obtain data from officials and students with practical experience, knowledge and understanding of the policy on FSHS with the use of purposeful sampling technique. The study made use of interviews as primary data collection instruments together with documents and online articles as the secondary data for the study. The study revealed that although the policy has come as a means to ensure increased enrolment in secondary schools. Its implementation is hindered by factors such as inadequate infrastructure, teachers and learning materials. Other factors hindering the implementation of the policy are the delay in the disbursements of funds to schools for development and the lack of adequate teaching facilities. The study recommends that to ensure effective implementation of the FSHS policy, the government needs to collaborate with other stakeholders to provide adequate and timely disbursements of fund, materials as well as adequate teachers to ensure the achievement of the policy goal.