The introduction of a cut-off point in the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme has been proposed as part of a review of Ghana’s flagship education policy.
The President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference and Bishop of the Sunyani Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Mathew Kwasi Gyamfi, championed this call, emphasizing its potential to improve the quality of education in second-cycle institutions.
Speaking at the conclusion of the Second National Catholic Education Forum in Koforidua, Most Rev. Gyamfi stated, “A cut-off point, when introduced, will help promote academic excellence and elevate the standards of education in our schools.”
He also stressed the urgent need for the government to address growing issues of indiscipline and examination malpractices, which he believes undermine academic integrity.
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The Catholic Bishops Conference further recommended reinstating the policy of repeating non-performing students at the pre-tertiary level to encourage academic excellence.
However, the proposal has met strong opposition from Kofi Asare, Executive Director of Africa Education Watch (EduWatch).
In a social media post, Mr. Asare criticized the idea of cut-offs as discriminatory and outdated, arguing, “Can’t we find another way of stimulating learning than to discriminate against low academic achievers? I think we can.”
Mr. Asare elaborated, asserting that there is no scientific basis to suggest that a student with a better aggregate from a well-equipped Junior High School (JHS) is inherently more capable than a student from an under-resourced JHS with a weaker aggregate.
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He remarked, “There is no scientific proof that one with aggregate 6 from Presec Primary where over 10 teachers teach in JHS is academically better or has a higher IQ than one with aggregate 36 from Mafi Dugame where one teacher taught the entire JHS in 2021.”
He further called for a focus on strengthening Ghana’s basic education system, career guidance, and alternative pathways like Creative Arts, TVET, and sports academies.
“Education is a public good. One’s consumption must not affect the other’s enjoyment,” Mr. Asare concluded.
