Angel Carbonu, President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), has urged former President John Mahama to accept the notion of parents paying for their children's meals and lodging at senior high schools (SHS). Carbonu contends that the existing Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy must be altered to maintain its long-term viability, particularly considering Ghana's financial challenges.

In an interview with Okay FM on January 10, 2025, Mr. Carbonu admitted that the Free SHS effort has had considerable good effects on education, but he emphasized that the country's current economic woes make it difficult to continue with the policy in its current format. "While the Free SHS program has been beneficial, the reality of the country's economic situation demands a review of how we fund and manage the program," according to him.

Mr. Carbonu expressed concern over a lack of food and accommodation resources in several SHS facilities. He advocated that parents contribute to their children's meals and housing to help ease some of these difficulties. This advice is similar to one made by the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), which has also urged parents to help provide food for children as shortages continue to afflict schools across the country.

"Many students now rely on pocket money and supplies from home because government-provided food is insufficient," Carbonu told me. He also criticized the government's overreliance on the National Food Buffer Stock Company, claiming that food deliveries is routinely delayed. These delays, he claimed, interrupt school operations and cause food shortages. Furthermore, bureaucratic protocols make it difficult for headmasters to purchase meals directly for pupils, exacerbating the problem.

To solve these persistent issues, Carbonu proposed that schools temporarily send pupils home until a sustainable long-term solution is discovered. "We need to have serious discussions with all stakeholders involved to find a way forward," he added, adding that the country urgently requires a new Minister of Education to lead these talks.

"Transparency and dialogue are crucial to making the Free SHS program effective and sustainable," Carbonu says. His statements emphasize the importance of a coordinated approach to ensuring that the Free SHS policy continues to benefit Ghanaian students while also addressing the fiscal realities confronting the government and education sector.