The CEO of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), Kofi Ofosu Nkansah, has revealed the government spends approximately GH¢9,000 on each student enrolled under the Free Senior High School (SHS) programme.

This investment covers the educational needs of students across various public schools, ensuring access to secondary education without financial barriers, he explained.

According to the NEIP CEO, the substantial expenditure reflects the government’s commitment to providing quality education to all Ghanaian students.

In addition to Free SHS students, Mr Nkansah disclosed the government allocates over GH¢9,000 per Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) student. 

This amount, he noted, was slightly higher than the investment in SHS students, due to the specialised nature of TVET education, which required additional resources for practical training and technical equipment.

The aim was to equip TVET students with the skills needed to thrive in technical fields and contribute to Ghana’s industrial growth, he noted.

Mr Nkansah highlighted this expenditure was part of the government’s broader vision of improving access to education and building a skilled workforce. 

The Free SHS and TVET programmes are crucial pillars in developing human capital, reducing inequality, and preparing students for the job market, he underlined.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, October 9, Mr Nkansah also emphasised education remained a top priority for the current administration, as it played a pivotal role in the country’s socioeconomic transformation.

Despite the significant financial outlay, the NEIP CEO expressed confidence the long-term benefits of the Free SHS and TVET programmes would far outweigh the costs. 

He noted the government’s continued investment in education would lead to a more skilled and educated population, which is essential for driving national development and innovation.

“On average, the government spent Ghc 8,936/9,808 on an SHS/TVET boarding student for 3 years using 2021 academic year rates,” he said.

“People who cannot save 10,000 cedis their entire life are getting their children educated for free, impacting generations,” he added.