The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, says the determination by some elements within the National Democratic Congress to “review the Free Senior High School policy if voted into office” only means the eventual collapse of the policy.
According to President Akufo-Addo, the Ghanaian people should be alarmed by the proposal of the NDC and its presidential aspirant, John Dramani Mahama, for a review of the Free SHS policy – a policy which has ensured that 270,000 more Ghanaian children, in 2017 and 2018, have gained access to Senior High School.
“I am alarmed by this concept of review. This is because, anytime our political opponents try anything of this sort, it leads the policy in question into coma. We all remember the NHIS one-term premium payment review pledge. Not only did the review not materialize, but they also succeeded in degrading the policy,” the President bemoaned.
He continued, “I honestly suspect reviewing the Free SHS policy means collapsing it. But, I doubt the Ghanaian people will allow this brilliant policy to be collapsed by anyone.”
President Akufo-Addo made this known on Friday, 28th September, 2018, when he addressed a townhall meeting of Ghanaians resident in Washington DC, as part of his trip to the United States of America for the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Explaining the rationale for the introduction of the Free SHS policy, he noted that over the past five years, before the implementation of the policy, an average of 100,000 Ghanaian students were dropping out of school at Junior High School level, because their parents could not afford it.
“This obviously cannot the be level of education we dream of giving to our young generation, in order for them to compete in the labour and ideas generation market, that are excellently represented by continents such as Asia, America, Latin America, Europe, etc.,” he said.
The decision, therefore, to implement the Free SHS policy was a “big decision because of its effect on our finances”, adding that “I was particularly subjected to a lot of public ridicule.
‘The policy is a hoax’, ‘the bearer is a liar’, ‘it is undoable’, ‘we need more time’, ‘it’s not a good idea’, are just some phrases used to describe their reactions. But this, obviously, is the nature of our politics, so we understood”.
Double Track not strange
As a result of the increased numbers, the President noted that his Government has found a creative and innovative way of absorbing the high numbers, whilst, at the same time, putting in place a working plan to expand the existing infrastructure.
“I have always been encouraged by the attitude of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, who took a decision on the grounds that empowerment of the young generation through education was very critical in nation building, even when there are challenges. He held the view that, even though there were challenges, there was the need to still introduce the policy (Accelerated Development Plan for Education),” he said.
The President continued, “I naturally ascribe to same school of thought that, there may few challenges, i.e. the high numbers with the introduction of Free SHS, and the high deficit in infrastructure at that level, nevertheless it is opening the gains for more young persons to have access. That's exactly what we have done by introducing the double track system.”
President Akufo-Addo insisted there is absolutely nothing unusual or strange about the double track system, since it has worked very well in many countries that have practiced it effectively.
To guarantee the success of the system, the President noted that over 8,000 more teachers are being recruited to cater for the shortfall in teaching personnel.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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. |
Ben Please tell us the tax Nana Addo introduce.. Let me remind you that the 17.5 percent petrolium tax JM introduce was reduce by Nana have you forgotten about the reduction in Electricity tarriffs... Ghanaians we have short memory.. I have two kids.. This year one is going to SHS for free and Next year the other one will also be going.. If not for free SHS I would have been paying not less than 3 thousand Ghana cedis excluding provisions and other things. He will be eating twice every day free in school. 70 thousand people would have turn to arm robbers and will be out of school if not for free SHS.. Come and review it.. if yours was review during your time you will not be were u r today. God have mercy on you. As for you Ben God should forgive you. This money we r using to pay free SHS will have gone to waste if you allow politician to use it for developmental projects.. It would have ended up in peoples pocket like the Savanna project.. A.K.A "Akonfem"
U urself collapsed ur free SHS already not money
Just resource AMIDU and ndc history will take care of all. Amidu and his OFFICE is the answer for the survival of the SHS and the DOUBLE TRACK system.
@Ben. From the horrible grammar that you are throwing at us on this platform, it seems to me that even what you refer to as'free SHS that lacks quality' would have helped you a great deal.Why is it that the NDC would not allow us to have some peace in this country?If any of these oafs had any brains they would not be comparing 8 years of wanton pillage and waste of resources to 19 months of someone else's administration.We WILL NEVER allow this kleptomaniac to come back to power so he can buy more houses in Dubai.
JOHN MAHAMA SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF HIMSELF AS AN EX PRESIDENT OF GHANA.THAT WAS THE REASON WHY SOME ONE TOLD HIM HE HAS THE DEVILS HEART. HE IS A VERY WICKED MAN WHO DO NOT HAVE GHANAIANS AT HEART. HE ONLY WANT TO STEAL OUR MONEY NOTHING MORE. GHANAIANS SHOULD WATCH THIS GREEDY MAN WHO ONLY THINK OF HIS FAMILY IF NOT SO HE SHOULD HAVE NOT GIVEN 58 PERCENT OF GHANAS BAUXITE TO HIS BROTHER IBRAHIM GREEDY FAMILY INDEED.THANK GOD HE SACKED YOU FROM THE SEAT OF GOV.JOHN YOU ARE DOOMED AND DOOMED FOR EVER.GHANAIANS RISE UP AND VOTE AGAINST JOHN MAHAMA AND HIS NDC BECAUSE WHEN THEY COME THE FIRST THING THEY WILL DO IS TO ABOLISH THE FREE SHS CONCEPT.LONG LIVE NANA ADDO AND NPP.
GHANAIANS MUST BEWARE NDC IS PURE EVILLLL AND WICKED. SIMPLE.
Your free SHS that has lack quality education. As a country we need quality education not free. You have increase taxes and add more Taxes on revenues, you increase petrol we are PAYING FOR THAT SHS IS NOT FREE. STOP THIS YOUR GRAMMAR AND REASON UP. YOUR TIMING FOR THE FREE SHS IS WRONG. THAT IS WHY WE ARE SUFFERING. YOU HAVE DISAPPOINT ME I VOTED MASSIVELY FOR YOU BUT I AM HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED
JOHN MAHAMA WILL BUILD MORE CLASSROOMS AND BUNGALOWS FOR TEACHERS. JM WILL SURELY WIN 2020.
No one will ever give him that chance. Not even the remaining of the more than 18 children he has who will be enjoying free SHS like himself.