Mzbel dragged online over Free SHS comment

Ghanaian musician Mzbel is facing a wave of backlash from netizens on social media after criticising the Free Senior High School (SHS) initiative.

In an interview on Neat FM, the “Sweet 16” hitmaker described the quality of the Free SHS program as “not good.”

She raised concerns about students spending more time at home than in school, which forces parents to pay for additional classes, making the program not truly free.

“The quality of the Free SHS initiative is not good. Children go to school for a short while and then come home for long periods. As parents, we can’t leave them idle at home, so eventually, you have to register them for extra classes. This means the Free SHS is not even free,” Mzbel said.

She also expressed disappointment in the government’s lack of action, stating, “The government says they will work on it, but we haven’t seen anything. However, I’m confident that when John Mahama comes into power, the program will be revised and made better.”

Mzbel’s comments sparked significant criticism on social media, with many labeling her “ungrateful” and defending the initiative.

Critics pointed out that initial challenges are common in any new program and highlighted the opportunities Free SHS has provided to many Ghanaians.

The Free Senior High School initiative, launched in 2017 under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s administration, was designed to eliminate financial barriers to secondary education by covering all fees for students placed in public senior high schools.

As of 2024, over 1.4 million students have benefitted from the program, which has also been credited with improving enrollment rates and providing more opportunities for students from low-income families.

However, the program has faced challenges such as sustainability in funding and infrastructure deficits.

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