FREE SHS: The 5.7m figure was arithmetic error, only 3.5m have benefited – Dr. Adutwum clarifies

Former Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has clarified the number of students who benefited from the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy since its inception.

Earlier, it was reported that 5.7 million students benefited from the policy which brought a heated argument between the current government and the previous administration.

But speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show on Friday, February 14, 2025, Dr. Adutwum clarified that 3.5 million students benefited from the Free SHS policy.

He explained that the 5.7 million figure was an arithmetic error from the Ministry of Finance.

“The first time this issue came out was through the Ministry of Finance, their accounting for expenditure indicated the number in terms of the first year how much they funded, the second year how many students they funded and the third year how many students they funded. So arithmetically, they were looking at how many funding units that they have done from a certain period to a certain period.” He said.

Adding that “And that arithmetic is what gave the 5.7 million figure counting from the budget units. We should also know that we are dealing with not the funding units but we are dealing with beneficiaries. If you are not doing a one year program, people have benefited a number of times in order for them to be fully classified as beneficiaries.”

“Then we did the reconciliation, that is when we were able to see that this was an arithmetic error. So I think it was an accounting error that caused that but unfortunately, it took us some time to discover that the Education Ministry cannot use the Finance Ministry calculation. So the number of students who benefited from SHS at the Education Ministry is 3.5 million.” Dr. Adutwum explained.

Source: Elvisanokyenews.com