Government allocates additional funds to “Free SHS” programme

By
Samira Larbie, GNA

Accra, July 19, GNA – Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, the
Minister of Finance, said to date, GH¢899,524,466.30 has been released for the
2017/18 academic year for the Free SHS Programme.

He said in addition, sufficient allocation has
been made in the 2018 budget to cover the first term of the 2018/19 academic
year.

The Minister said to address the initial
challenges identified with the implementation of the programme, 96,413 mono
desks, 32,171 dining hall furniture, 3,033 tables and chairs for teachers,
12,953 bunk beds, 4,335 student mattresses, and 5,135 computer laboratory
chairs have been supplied to various Senior High School (SHS).

Mr Ofori-Atta said this in Accra on Thursday
when he read the 2018 mid-year budget review to Parliament.

He said
currently, a total of 362,118 first year students from all the public SHS made
up of 117,692 day students and 244,426 boarding students were benefiting from
the programme.

Mr ofori Atta said government remained
committed on the implementation of the programme which had created
opportunities for the enrolment of an additional 90,000 students who would have
otherwise dropped out of school.

The Free SHS Programme was implemented in
September, 2017 to help reduce the number of school dropouts due to financial
challenges.

GNA

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