The influence of free senior high school on student academic performance a case study of Atwima Nwabiagya Disrict

Abstract

Getting everyone into school increases quantity thus maintaining the quality of it becomes a burden and quite challenging. Globally, access to education is one of the problems facing education and the Education For All movement which was initiated by UNESCO with the aim of getting all children, youth and adult to school. This study seeks to assess the influence of Free Senior School on student academic performance in Ghana. Cross-sectional survey research design was used for the study with a population of 198. Census sampling technique was used for the participants for the study. 198 questionnaires were administered of which 163 was retrieved. The study revealed that in the year 2016/2017, the student’s enrolment rate was 2617, this figure increased in the subsequent academic year 2018/2019 to 2625. The student’s enrolment rate increased to 2857 in the 2020/2021 academic year. Additionally, the free SHS policy has increased access in public schools’ enrollment. The study concluded that students’ enrolment rate was increased as a result of introduction of free senior high school policy. Parents enrolled their students in schools because of the free primary education. The study recommended that the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Education and Ghana Education Service should involve private schools in computerized school placement system and boost the private sector.