Adutwum Admits Error: Free SHS Beneficiaries Are 3.5M, Not 5.7M
Former Education Minister Yaw Osei Adutwum corrects an earlier overestimation, attributing the discrepancy to an accounting error while reaffirming the policy’s transformative impact
- Dr. Adutwum revises Free SHS beneficiaries from 5.7M to 3.5M
- He takes full responsibility for the miscalculation
- Free SHS remains a game-changer, expanding education access
Former Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum has clarified that 3.5 million students have benefited from Ghana’s Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy since its inception, correcting a previous overestimation of 5.7 million.
Speaking in an interview on Friday, February 14, Dr. Adutwum admitted to a miscalculation, attributing the discrepancy to an accounting error.
“It was some accounting error that happened. Unfortunately, it took us some time to discover that in education, we shouldn’t be using the numbers as so articulated by the finance ministry. There was an error in the figures previously mentioned, and I take full responsibility for that. The correct number of beneficiaries stands at 3.5 million,” he explained.
Despite the numerical adjustment, Dr. Adutwum emphasized that Free SHS remains one of Ghana’s most impactful educational policies. He urged stakeholders to continue supporting the initiative to ensure its sustainability and progress.
“Free SHS has changed the trajectory of education in Ghana, and we must do everything possible to ensure its continuous improvement,” he said.
Dr. Adutwum, who served as Education Minister from 2021 to 2024, highlighted the policy’s role in expanding access to secondary education and easing financial burdens on families. He reaffirmed the programme’s significance in helping millions of students complete their education without financial constraints.
“The Free SHS policy has transformed education in Ghana, allowing millions of students to pursue their dreams without the worry of school fees,” he concluded.
