Massive SHS Enrolment Reduces HIV/AIDS …among the youth –Education Minister

The Minister for Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, has disclosed that the increase in Senior High School (SHS) enrollment has reduced HIV/AIDS infections among the youth by 26%.

This is the figure between 2017 and 2021, the first four years since the expansion of SHS enrollment through the free SHS, initiated by the Akufo-Addo government.

In an interview with The Chronicle, the Minister, Dr. Adutwum, emphasised that the positive impact of SHS enrollment extends beyond education and into health.

According to Dr. Adutwum, education has long been recognised as a powerful tool in HIV prevention, as it equips young people with the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about their sexual health.

He argued that the removal of barriers to access and the integration of comprehensive sexuality education into the SHS curriculum have played a significant role in raising awareness about HIV/AIDS prevention and promoting healthier behaviours among students.

“As a result, health officials have observed a decline in HIV/AIDS prevalence rates among SHS students, demonstrating the critical role that education plays in improving public health outcomes.

“This translates into a reduction of new HIV infections by 26%, while AIDS-related deaths also reduced by 38% between 2017 and 2021.”

GROWTH IN ENROLLMENT

The Minister emphasised that Ghana’s education sector is experiencing a significant milestone, owing to what he described as the nation’s record growth in SHS enrollment.

He opined that the surge in enrollment signifies a significant step forward in the nation’s efforts to provide accessible, equitable and quality education for all.

He added that enrollment has increased through maintaining high standards of education, achieving gender parity, improving health outcomes and embracing innovative teaching methods, adding that “Ghana is laying the foundation for a brighter future for its youth and the nation as a whole.”

GENDER PARITY

According to the Minister for Education, Ghana has attained gender parity in SHS enrollment, surpassing many other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.

A comparative analysis, according to him, reveals that Ghana’s progress in gender equality in education was commendable, with equal opportunities provided to both male and female students.

This achievement, he intimated, was a testament to the government’s commitment to promoting gender equality and empowering girls through education.

He explained that this would be done by ensuring that all children, regardless of gender, have access to education, adding that Ghana is paving the way for a more equitable society.

QUALITY

The Bosomtwi Member of Parliament, Dr. Adutwum, observed that regardless of the surge in SHS enrollment, the quality of education has not been compromised.

He stated that the implementation of the Free SHS programme, along with targeted interventions to improve teaching and learning outcomes, has ensured that students continue to receive a quality education that prepares them for success in the future.

LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY

Ghana has introduced the Ghana Smart Schools Project (GSSP) to enhance the learning experience for SHS students, a project that was launched in late March 2024.

The Minister for Education indicated that the development was in line with efforts to reposition Ghana’s education system to align with what pertains to the 4th industrial revolution.

He explained further that the GSSP is an extension of the government’s free SHS and TVET digitalization agenda to transform Ghana’s economy.

The project seeks to equip Ghanaian students with 21st-century learning opportunities to compete globally.

Under this project, all public senior high school students would be supplied with tablets fully loaded with a customised Learning Management System (LMS).

The Minister said the government of Ghana had enrolled about 5.7 million children who have benefited, while some are still benefiting from the Free SHS policy.

Every student under the GSSP gets a preloaded tablet accessorised with a bag pack, solar recharge and an offline version of the course content.

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