Member of Parliament for Asokwa Constituency, Patricia Appiagyei, has indicated that the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy has contributed to a surge in unemployment rates among Ghanaian youth.
According to Patricia Appiagyei, the increased access to education has led to a higher number of students completing school, but failing to secure employment.
“The high unemployment rate in Ghana is arising out of Free Senior High Education. Because we’re educating more people. A lot of them have completed school and they are not working,” she stated.
Her comments come on the heels of the Ghana Statistical Service’s (GSS) annual Household Income and Expenditure Survey (AHIES), which revealed a staggering 1.9 million youth aged 15-35 were not in education, employment, or training (NEET) in the third quarter of last year.
While Madam Appiagyei acknowledges the need for education, she emphasizes that other interventions are required to address the unemployment crisis. “However, there are other interventions that they don’t want,” she added, hinting at potential solutions being overlooked.
The Free SHS policy, introduced to increase access to education, has been a flagship program of the current government.
However, its unintended consequences on employment rates have raised concerns among stakeholders.
Source: Oyerepafmonline.com / Joseph Marfo
