The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has reiterated that the Free Senior High School Policy, launched this year, on 12th September, will be sustained and is here to stay.
According to President Akufo-Addo, “I know, and I am sure I am not the only one who has heard, the people who are mounting political platforms, speaking on television and radio, and putting up posts on social media, hoping and praying for this policy to collapse.”
He continued, “We know those who have a record for scrapping pro-poor policies – nursing and teacher trainees will bear testimony. I wish to assure them that Free SHS will be sustained, that Free SHS is here to stay. The overwhelming majority of Ghanaians support the choice that I have made in implementing Free SHS”.
President Akufo-Addo made this known on Saturday, 2nd December, 2017, when he delivered a speech at the 60th Anniversary Celebrations of the Kumasi Academy, in Kumasi.
The President stressed that there is no part of Ghana that does not recognise the importance of education, adding that “we have all accepted that education is the best route to moving out of poverty.”
It is for this reason that, on 12th September, 2017, he launched the Free Senior High School policy, to ensure that one of the biggest obstacles that stood in the way of access to secondary education, and that is cost, is removed.
“This has already led to an increase of over 90,000 children, who have entered secondary school this academic year, who would otherwise have dropped out at this stage. Free SHS has lifted the financial burden off parents, and the heart-rending anxiety that accompanies the beginning of every school term,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo was, thus, surprised that, because of political expediency, some would wish and pray for this policy to fail.
Nonetheless, the President reiterated that “my government believes that we have a sacred duty to our children, and the generations beyond in ensuring that, irrespective of their circumstances, whether of birth, status, class, ethnic or religious affiliations, their right to an education is preserved.”
On the teething challenges confronting the Free SHS policy, the President acknowledged that “there would be with any new, bold initiative”.
He told the gathering that he was inspired by the famous Chinese adage which says “a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step”, explaining that “we have taken that first step in Ghana, and we shall deal with the challenges.”
In dealing with the teething challenges, President Akufo-Addo stated that “Government has ordered thousands of mono-desks and bunk beds, as well as furniture for dining halls, staff rooms, computer labs and markers for classroom.”
In commemoration of Kumasi Academy’s 60th Anniversary, the President announced that, through the Ministry of Education, the construction of a vocational centre, and the completion of the Library and ICT Centre, will be done.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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Frank, the government is not responsible for providing jobs. The task of the government is to provide the needed environment for business to start and growth. Don't you think people with education can learn new skills and abilities to provide themselves with jobs? Don't you think people with education will know and can contribute and understand things better? The inability of jobs in Ghana is because we want office jobs. In america people with better degrees are even in farming and other jobs that Ghanaians won't do. In countries where illiteracy rate is lower do better in terms of economic development.
NDC is the real nation wreckers.May their name be forever be lost as the party rot in opposition,because their being there is Ghana's blessing.Wicked souls!
Mr. President please what is the wisdom in giving free money to people while they are in school and will not be employed when they completed? Seriously, you call this an achievement. You knew very well that what nursing and teachers trainees need is not free GHC400 a mount but guaranteed employment couple with good condition of service and decent salary. Please how will it affect us as a nation if nursing and teacher trainees access student loan to complete their program of study. You spent about GHC232million on nursing trainee allowances alone every ten months. Can't this money be used to improve health facilities across the country which will provide immediate employment for this nursing trainees when they complete their program? It's very sad politicians play to the ***barred word*** of the people and pretend that they are making life comfortable for them. Giving someone GHC400 month while he/she can access student loan to complete program of study is not in any way improving their life. What improve their life and a promising future is to employ them when they complete their studies. Mr. president, you and your government are just using the taxpayers money to clearly buy vote from these nursing trainees especially, who doesn't understand your intentions.