“It’s so annoying; we are even tired of this people, ah! What they are doing is needless, and they know," Policy think tank, IMANI Africa boss vented his frustration and described as needless government’s decision to introduce double tracking system in Senior High Schools to accommodate the surge in students’ population.
Franklin Cudjoe also described as “cantata” some policies by the Nana Addo-led administration in Ghana’s education system.
“They will just wake up one day and go and talk to some professor and the professor will start talking on radio that we want to do multi-track. The following day, the ministry will then say ‘I think we have to do multi-track’. Look, policy work is not like cantata. They are jokers,” he said in an interview with NEAT FM’s morning show ‘Ghana Montie’.
A total of 362,118 first-year students from public Senior High Schools across the country are currently benefiting from the government’s fee-free education policy since its inception - 117,692 are day students with 244,426 being boarders.
Based on last year’s enrollment, the government has projected enrollment figures for 2018 to stand at 472,730 against available seats of 290, 737 leaving a gap of 181, 993 to be created in order to accommodate the expected number of enrollment.
The double tracking system, according to the Ministry of Education will offer students more instructional and contact hours with teachers.
But, Franklin Cudjoe is totally against the policy – according to him, “It doesn’t make sense”.
He continued, “Why don’t you if you really insist on doing this . . . use a voucher system so that you give vouchers to parents up to a certain amount to choose which schools they [parents] want [their kids] to go to."
“Education is not like vaccination you give, you have to prepare the environment. So what? People go in and then some people sit at home and then what happens? Is it a shift system? At IMANI we are just fed up,” he added.
Franklin Cudjoe also threatened a demonstation against government if the policy is not reviewed.
Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/ Twitter: @Washman5/ Instagram: Ambrose_wash
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
I respect IMANI as an Institution and what they do very much. But it is rather becoming too rampant nowadays, rather, bossy and arrogant in terms of the language Mr. Cudjoe uses to get his opinion expressed. To me, he seems to sound too self-opinionated and portrays himself as the one, who always thinks he knows the best. From the very onset, we are aware of IMANI 's stance against the Free SHS in terms of its universal funding. But IMANI has not come out categorically to say how they are going to implement it to exclude those who can afford to pay. This stance to date just stands populistic in space and IMANI keeps on hammering it. Usage of vouchers sounds simple but how are you going to identify parents who are going to be issued vouchers in our communities in the first place. It will be the same parents who are formally captured in our small tax net. And that will mean double burden. You see, the politicians do not have the luxury of time to prepare for implementation of a policy. The four-year mandate is too short a time to make an impact in the political space to accord you the two-term mandate. In our part of the world political space and the practice of multiparty democracy, the term continuity of policy by the opposition is near alien. indeed the goodwill of the NPP should be acknowledged and encouraged to start their programmes make mistakes along the line, accept meaningful inputs and correct them going forward. I think our circumstance to date makes this option plausible. IMANI should stop threatening and be issuing an ultimatum. Informed criticism and meaningful dialogue will help. But polemics, populism and the excesses of the same won't help.
The man, a well educated man, Akufo-Addo thinks several times before implementing anything. I think Ghanaians should start learning from him and Ghana needs about three hundred Akufo-Addo's, I will only plead with him to consider private schools in the country.
Every policy must be documented so that implementers can follow and implement it. It should not be in the mind of one man who will mount pulpit once a while and be announcing. My worry is that it is likely this policy will make students stay home atleast 3 months.
IF YOU CAN'T STAND THE HEAT IN THE ROOM THEN GET OUT FOR SOME FRESH AIR. HAHAHAHA
I have been listening to the man for some time. He always make comments which are unpalatable. Quick to criticize but no serious suggestions. He he think he knows all he should form his own party and come to power and to the big mouth politics he is doing.
It seams like the party wants to favor everybody but the money is not there .Since some are willing to their own school fees and "free SHS " is demanding huge funds I will suggest to gov to make one SHS school to be paying school fees in every region .Please let the private schools also pick the rest of students and pay the them schools by negotiations .Double will disturb the system .
Mr Know It All, have you finished your KeniGVG battle or you lost it?
When NPP was in opposition, Imani and its president, Franklin Cudjoe were perceived to be our allies bcos he criticized the NDC govt. So what has changed? Doesn't the man has a right to make constructive criticisms? We should stop going after every one who criticises the government. We should rather invite him to the table.
Franklin, please respect and stop using unprofessional words on your colleagues in Government.
Dear Mr Cudjoe - two thoughts for you: (i) It is better to constructively HELP public officials than to constantly criticize them" - Andre Comte-Sponville!; (ii) you need to seriously examine yourself and determine your value-added.