The Centre for Policy Scrutiny has raised concerns over hidden costs confronting families under Ghana’s Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme, nine years after its introduction.

The Centre says delays in the distribution of uniforms and textbooks, coupled with prospectus-related expenses, continue to compel parents to spend money to meet their children’s educational needs.

The concerns are contained in a new report titled “Improved Access, Quality Questioned: A Report on Nine Years of Ghana’s Free SHS,” presented by Dr Jacob Oppong Nkansah, a lecturer at the University of Education, Winneba, on Tuesday, September 1.

According to the report, the policy has significantly improved access to secondary education, but the experience of some families shows that education under the programme is not entirely free.

The study found that parents sometimes have to purchase items that are supposed to be provided under the programme, particularly when uniforms and textbooks are delayed.

It also identified the double-track system as another source of financial pressure, arguing that reduced contact hours are pushing some parents to pay for private extra classes to supplement classroom instruction.

The Centre said these additional expenses amount to hidden costs that could disproportionately affect low-income families—the very households the Free SHS policy was designed to support.

“The “Free” is not always free. Despite its name, the policy still leaves many families paying”, he said.

The Free SHS programme was introduced to remove financial barriers to secondary education by covering tuition and admission fees in public senior high schools.

Under the policy, government is also expected to provide textbooks and facilitate access to library and science facilities, while covering WASSCE and internal examination costs.

For boarding students, food and accommodation are covered, while day students are expected to receive meals.

However, the report argues that gaps in implementation continue to leave some families paying for essential educational needs.