We had an incredible dissemination event with the Honourable Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, and his team at the Ministry of Education on Friday, April 19, 2024. Intensive exchange, dynamic interaction, and engaging dialogue characterized our dissemination at the Ministry.
Education is widely recognized as a key driver for economic development, innovation, social mobility, and poverty reduction in every country. In line with this, the government of Ghana implemented the Free Senior High School Education policy in 2017 to improve access to secondary education for all citizens. However, concerns have been raised about the policy’s impact on students’ academic performance.
To generate the required evidence on these policy issues, Prof. Duah Dwomoh, a senior lecturer at the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS), received funding from the Development Impact West Africa (DIWA) research grant competition to conduct a comprehensive study titled “The Impact of the Free Senior High School Education Policy and Double-Track System on Quality Education Outcomes: A Quasi-Experimental Policy Evaluation Study in Ghana.” This study utilized a robust methodology to assess various aspects of the policy and its impact.
Prof. Dwomoh’s avid presentation of the findings sparked engaging discussions among the Minister and other distinguished attendees at the ministry. The minister, Dr. Adutwum, shared some concerns about the findings and also expressed his appreciation for the thoroughness of the study. Additionally, he highlighted plans for restructuring the policy to incorporate the recommendations from the study, emphasizing the government’s commitment to improving educational outcomes.
Our Director, Prof. Charles Amoatey, also shared his view on the policy and suggested potential restructuring measures to alleviate its economic impact and improve the quality of secondary education in Ghana.
In conclusion, the dissemination event with Honourable Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum and his team at the Ministry of Education was successful. The lively discussions and valuable exchanges highlighted the importance of education and its impact on the economic growth of the country. We strongly believe the insights generated will help in restructuring the policy for maximum impact and better outcomes.
