What Happened to Ghana’s E-Block Community Day Schools? Insights on Free SHS Policy Challenges

Discover the ongoing debate surrounding Ghana’s Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, its implementation hurdles like the double-track system, and the stalled progress on E-Block Community Day Secondary Schools. This article examines historical facts, current issues, and potential solutions for equitable secondary education access in Ghana.

Introduction

Ghana’s Free SHS policy has transformed access to secondary education since its launch in 2017, removing financial barriers for millions of students from low-income and rural families. However, rapid enrollment surges led to overcrowding, infrastructure strains, and the controversial double-track system. Veteran journalist Enimil Ashon questions the fate of the E-Block Community Day Secondary Schools concept, originally championed during John Mahama’s first term. This initiative aimed to build local day schools, reducing reliance on distant boarding facilities. As Mahama’s administration marks nearly a year in power in 2025, with no updates on promised Free SHS reviews or E-Block revival, stakeholders seek clarity on sustainable secondary education reforms in Ghana.

Historical Context of Free SHS and E-Blocks

The Free SHS promise propelled the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to victory in 2016. While popular for easing parental burdens, experts like former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta urged targeted implementation for the poorest households, similar to the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) program. Meanwhile, E-Blocks—modern community day schools—emerged from a 2014 World Bank financing agreement worth US$156 million to boost secondary enrollment by 30,000 students over six years.

Analysis

The Free SHS policy’s success in boosting enrollment is undeniable, yet its universal rollout without safeguards created systemic pressures. Between 2014 and 2016, Ghana awarded 101 contracts for E-Block structures, supplemented by 23 World Bank projects. By 2020, additional blocks came via GETFund (14) and the World Bank (16 more), totaling significant progress. Each E-Block features classrooms, science labs, toilets, teachers’ quarters, and vocational facilities—ideal for local access.

Overcrowding and Double-Track System Issues

Prestigious schools like Augustine’s, Aggrey Memorial, Mfantsiman Girls, Opoku Ware, and Prempeh College faced severe overcrowding. To manage this, the double-track system divided students into cohorts, alternating school terms—often one month in class followed by three months vacation. For instance, Achimota School students reported on September 20 and departed October 17 in a recent term, disrupting learning continuity and exacerbating indiscipline.

Government Responses and Policy Shifts

Opposition leader John Mahama pledged a Free SHS review. Post-2024 election victory, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu announced on October 14, 2025, a reclassification: 10 Category A schools to B, and 10 B to A, backed by infrastructure upgrades for equitable placement. Yet, silence persists on E-Blocks, despite Mahama’s prior advocacy and Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang’s role in their design.

Summary

In summary, Free SHS alleviated poverty-driven exclusion but triggered unintended consequences like the double-track system due to rushed rollout. The E-Block Community Day Schools model, proven effective with 39 World Bank-supported structures in three years, offers a day-school alternative to boarding pressures. Reviving it could address overcrowding, indiscipline, and costs, aligning with Ghana’s secondary education goals.

Key Points

Practical Advice

For policymakers and educators seeking to optimize Ghana’s Free SHS and secondary education:

Revive E-Block Construction

Leverage ongoing World Bank ties to build 39 additional E-Blocks in three years. Prioritize rural areas using Ghana Statistical Service data, mirroring LEAP targeting.

Integrate Day Schools into Placement

Encourage local enrollment to decongest boarding schools. Provide uniforms and meals selectively to manage costs in a resource-limited economy.

Stakeholder Engagement

Conduct public consultations on Free SHS reviews, incorporating teacher and parent input. Upgrade Category B schools via reclassification to balance equity.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Track enrollment, infrastructure use, and academic outcomes quarterly. Pilot hybrid models blending day and boarding options.

Points of Caution

While Free SHS is a milestone, heed these risks:

Implementation Pitfalls

Rushed universal policies strain facilities without means-testing, as warned by Ken Ofori-Atta. Overcrowding erodes quality in top schools.

Social Challenges

Boarding forces 15-year-olds into hostels, leading to cooking, self-care, and discipline breakdowns, including rising teen pregnancies.

Economic Burdens

Providing free uniforms in a poor nation diverts funds. Double-track disrupts learning, with cohorts idle for months.

Policy Inertia

Nearly a year into Mahama’s term, unfulfilled review promises risk public trust erosion.

Comparison

Boarding vs. Day Schools in Ghana

Mahama vs. Akufo-Addo Eras

Mahama’s first term initiated 101 E-Block contracts and World Bank deals. Akufo-Addo expanded Free SHS universally, adding GETFund/World Bank blocks but introducing double-track. Current Mahama 2.0 focuses on reclassification, yet lags on day schools.

Legal Implications

No direct legal violations arise from Free SHS or double-track implementations, as they stem from executive policy under Ghana’s Education Act. However, constitutional rights to quality education (Article 25) imply obligations for equitable, sustainable access. World Bank agreements bind funding compliance, requiring transparent project execution. Failure to review policies could invite judicial scrutiny if equity disparities persist, though no cases are documented yet.

Conclusion

Ghana’s secondary education stands at a crossroads: Free SHS enrollment triumphs mask double-track woes and forgotten E-Block potential. Reviving Community Day Secondary Schools promises decongested elite institutions, safer student environments, and cost efficiencies. With three years left, John Mahama and Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang can legacy-build via World Bank partnerships. Targeted reforms—means-testing aid, infrastructure equity, and day-school emphasis—will sustain Free SHS gains, ensuring every Ghanaian child accesses quality education without compromise.

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