A former Deputy Minister for Education is predicting a high rate of school dropout as the government begins the implementation of the flagship Free Senior High School (SHS) policy.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa explained that, majority of the students especially in second and third years from poor homes will dropout if their parents are not able to fund their education.
Rather, he proposed the beneficiaries of the free SHS policy should have been children from poor homes and not for those who can afford.
‘Some rich parents whose children are beneficiaries can even pay the fees of 100 poor children yet they wards are also in school free’ he bemoaned.
About 400,000 students are expected to benefit from the education policy that will exempt them from paying for tuition and other fees.
At the launch of the logo for the policy two weeks ago, the President said apart from free tuition there will be no fees collected for use of the library, computers, utilities etc.
Though many doubted the viability of the policy, many parents are amazed when they take their wards to school free of charge.
But on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem Monday, Okudzeto Ablakwa was skeptical about the viability of the programme.
He indicated that, the Akufo-Addo led government did not put in place stable funding to keep it running.
“What is clear to me is that government is going to struggle to find the money. For an adequate and proper implementation of Free SHS, you would need GH¢600 million a term. They should rather target the poor students with the GH¢400 million and not the rich. I think it’s not sustainable, especially under the current circumstances” the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for North Tongu stressed.
On the way forward, Okudzeto Ablakwa urged government to put aside the partisan politics and seek the interest of the future generation.
Source: adomonline
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Oh I always advise Okudzeto Ablakwa concerning his utterances. My cousin Kofi Adams, Mizbel, IMANI Ghana and a lot more NDC sympathizers have all agreed that Nana Addo's Free SHS policy is good and we all need to rally behind him for a successful implementation but few ones like Haruna Iddrisu and others are deliberately throwing dust into the eyes of some people just to score cheap political points but it will never wash. We the true and genuine members of NDC truly support this policy, the fact that we lost the elections and did not have the chance to implement it doesn't mean that we should not support Nana Addo to do it. If any ill-minded and politically blind NDC member thinks it is not good or sustainable, the person can refuse to enroll his ward in any of the public SHS. NDC, let us change our attitude to dirty politics because the electorates are now 'very very wise' very discerning and we cannot take them for granted. Let us remember that in politics whatever we sow we shall reap thereof. Okudzeto Ablakwa vs Martin Amidu look at what you are doing to NDC, throwing insults to each other, how can we come to power with all these insults Today its Okudzeto, tomorrow its Martin Amidu. Now read about what Mr. Benet Ablakwa said about his adopted son Okudzeto Ablakwa as was published by ghanaweb of Tuesday 25-1-2011. Sack my Son - Okudzeto Ablakwa's Dad tells Mills. A tired-looking man, Bennett Ablakwa, claiming to be the foster father of Deputy Minister of Information, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has called for the immediate dismissal of his son from the Mills administration because of his arrogance and uncaring nature. Mr. Ablakwa, full of bitterness and wearing a broken heart, walked into the offices of Daily Guide last Friday January 21, swearing that Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa was too ungrateful to occupy a ministerial position and it would be in the interest of the country if he was relieved of the post. The weary-looking man, who had an afro-punk haircut that had strands of gray hair, complained that though he had spent his life savings to father the Deputy Minister from a tender age of three, when his biological father virtually abandoned him, until he went through tertiary education, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa now treated him like a piece of rag. “Anytime you go to his office, he says he is busy and would make us wait the whole day… when he finally meets with us and we ask him for money, he would say that his salary is just around GH2000 and that the family pressure on him is so huge so he can’t help us. “His favourite term has turned to ‘oh I can see you guys do not get it eh? I cannot dip my hands into the taxpayers money for you. I can only live within my means; and true to his words, he would not help you. But what then is his essence in government if he ‘cannot help us to acquire even an auctioned car?” Bennett Ablakwa stated. The man’s witness, his sister Sally Ablakwa, who accompanied him to the office of Daily Guide, remained silent throughout the interview. When Daily Guide reached Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa over the issue, he said he would not be dragged into discussing his family matters in the media. The Deputy Information Minister, who has just returned from his honeymoon in the United States, said: “I will not discuss family matters in the media and would rather leave everything in the hands of the Almighty God. Bennett Ablakwa, his adopted father, however explained to Daily Guide that he got married to the Deputy Minister’s mother when Okudzeto was about three years old and that he willingly accepted him as a son and gave his name to Okudzeto. He said he and Ablakwa’s mother gave birth to four other children and they lived as one big family. Mr. Ablakwa said in an effort to put food on the table, he took to all sorts of jobs including being the pastor of the Deeper Life Christian Minister, a taxi-driver, a sweeper of streets in London and other odd jobs. The Deputy Minister reportedly travelled with his new wife and mother to the United States recently after a marriage ceremony in Wa in the Upper West Region. Some invitees and family members were said to have travelled in a long vehicle convoy while others flew and landed in Wa on a chartered flight, jolting the residents who rushed to the only airspace in the region to see which dignitary had landed in town. Long after the new-weds had left, the event became the talk of the town. The next day, the newly-weds left the shores of Ghana to cool off in America, but the minister has since returned to resume his duties. Ablakwa’s dad indicated to Daily Guide that he was neither invited to the function, nor informed when his son took the mother on the trip.
These bunch of crass corrupt, bas-ta-rds, lazy, st-upi-d, tribal bigotry, ***barred word*** cri-mina-ls in the minority are so annoying! They chose our money for corruption, create, loot and share when they had the opportunity to rule! Why no press conference on the ***barred word*** SSNIT and other terrible corruption under their rule! Crazy I-di-o-ts! God punish all of them!
AS much as l dont support any of these parties be it npp or ndc l think this baby with sharp teeth deserve some lashes.he really needs to be caned to shut the hell up. he needs to close his ***barred word*** mouth if he cant say anything sensible. every time he opens his mouth it is nothing but garbage. ghanaian politicians are ***barred word*** anyways regardless of party. they lack vision and strategy. their stomach guide their ideas. there is no love for country. hope this free shs thing is not a sham or done as a result of political expediency. the whole system is corrupt. hope somebody is not taking advantage of this shs free thing to drain the ***barred word*** out of the already depleted public purse. Lord have mercy.
Against baagbo.Nana no near y)
How many students dropped out when NDC implemented this program. Support your reasoning with research findings, how many drop outs do we see in all the countries that have such wonderful programs. This is the only direct way citizens are able to have some of the national cake. I think as an MP you should be coming up with responsible arguments such as how to ensure that students are all Ghanaian and not foreigners, how to ensure the sustainability of the program and how to ensure that every student is covered. This should have no political undertones.
Eish.....what kind of logical reasoning is this?? Smh
Kwasie it will produce your fork teeth dropout
How come peacefmonline gives this weasel so much space? What does he know? Why will any government introduce a policy if he does not have in mind the funds to be used? Give us a break
What an ***barred word***.
THE NEXT TIME YOU OPEN YOUR DIRTY MOUTH AND RABBIT TEETH TO SPEW OUT RUBBISH,YOU WILL SEE.DIRTY BOY.IS THAT HOW TO DO POLITICS?