Former President John Dramani Mahama has reiterated that he will review the Akufo-Addo-led administration’s flagship Free-SHS Policy within his first 90-days in office if elected in the 2020 general elections. He noted that he will engage relevant stakeholders to ensure that the policy is bettered.
According to him, the current government did not listen to him on countless occasions as he said that a consultative and stakeholders meeting needed to be arranged to fashion out how best and efficiently to implement the free senior high school.
Mr Mahama has come under backlash from the ruling NPP and a section of Ghanaians over his criticisms against the education policy.
Speaking at a meeting with the leaders of the Ghana National Council for Private Schools (GNACOPS) in Accra on Wednesday he noted “within the first 90-days after I take office as the president of Ghana, I will call for the arrangement of a very broad stakeholder and consultative meeting on the way forward for a better free SHS.” He however promised not to turn his back to private basic schools when back to power.
“The NDC shall ensure that all issues raised which are feasible and doable will be factored into the NDC manifesto,” he said.
The Director of GNACOPS, MrEnoch Kwasi Gyetuah, in his presentation, said the private basic schools played massive role in the development of basic education in Ghana, which should not be discounted. He said the government should be firm with the private partnership arrangement in the provision of schools in deprived areas leading to ‘build operate and transfer (BOT)’ system.
He also said the government should consider tax exemptions for certain educational tools and equipment when imported into the country as well other relaxed tax regimes for private schools operators. “There should also be a policy framework that will ensure quality and effective professional teacher development in private schools,” he advised.
“I am happy to announce the achievement of GNACOPS in the professional training of private school teachers in the country, which has helped, most teachers to earn their title professional teachers which hitherto was not the case, and also in the training of almost 70,000 teachers in the country on the new curriculum,” he said. The Director further said GNACOPS was ever ready to engage all stakeholders as well as all political parties and the current government to push strongly for the welfare of private schools teachers, managers, owners and parents for the benefit and growth of the private sector participation in education.
He finally asked the NDC to provide a policy or program that would allow the government to give logistical support to the council in their day to day affairs should the NDC come back to government.
Prof. Joshua Alabi, an educationalist and a member of the NDC, indicated that he was impressed with the council and what they were doing to project the image of private basic schools in the country and urged the council to continue with their engagement with all stakeholders.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo, the National Chairman of the NDC, also lauded the council particularly for the presentation made by the director for GNACOPS.
“The NDC is in process of crafting a very brilliant manifesto which is holistic and employs the bottom of approach and that the meeting was timely,” he said.
Source: starrfm.com
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Mahama, did you do any stakeholder consultations before your Free SHS for only selected day students, which you even refused to pay? Give us the report on your Free SHS system you practiced shambolically, before you think of reviewing somebody's Comprehensive Free SHS in 2020. You learn lessons from somebody better than you and add to it positively. I put it to you that, even if by chance you win power in 2020, you cannot do any review in 90 days. By the level of your incompetence, you would not have formed a credible government by then. Be realistic for once.
This ford bribe man has no ideas.... His government collapsed NHIS. He will rather cancel the free SHS. We remember the teacher trainees allowance, you cancelled and use the money to campaign.
KWASEAMPANI TO REVIEW SOMETHING THAT SOMEONE HAS INVENTED. ***barred word*** WHO DO YOU ESPECT TO BRING FORTH HIS IDEA FOR YOU TO REVIEW. SINCE WHEN DID NANA ADDO ASK YOU TO REVIEW SHIS BRAIN CHILD. KWASEAMPANI. WO HO FOO SE ATEE BOTOM.
It will serve you a great deal of good if you could indicate the areas that you intend to review. People will not trust you over making such general statements. Tell us what you intent to review. In any case you had the opportunity to correct the ills of the education system and failed. What next!
Anytime this man speaks on national issues especially those concerning policy direction, I ask myself was he not in power just some three years ago? So what did he do? This is a typical liar. The bad thing ever happened to NDC is to bring Mahama back to lead them. I could have considered voting for anybody in the NDC apart from Mahama because I have seen how Mahama rule before.
John Mahama, tell us what you would review. it should not be a secret. before you call stake holder meetings, you should know the bench mark before you attempt a review. your period saw a lot of light offs which killed the most basic self employment jobs like barbering and hair dressing. branding buses at irrational prices. please tell us what yo would do differently
Didn't he organized same on the economy at Senchi with Akua Donkor and loud m0uth Frankling Cudjoe of IMANI? In the long run we ran to the IMF. Masa you no ideas enjoy the money you made
"He noted that he will engage relevant stakeholders to ensure that the policy is bettered". "According to him, the current government did not listen to him on countless occasions as he said that a consultative and stakeholders meeting needed to be arranged to fashion out how best and efficiently to implement the free senior high school". So you don't have your own opinion you have to consult people. I see. In between the consultation what will the kids be doing? And in the consultation who what makes you think there will be consensus. But for double track my son would have been sitting at home. Massa you have nothing to offer go and sleep,
He said he will review the law school admission requirements too. Mr reviewer. Be original for once.
This man has been in opposition for three solid years and still don't have a single visionary project to profess whiles Nana Addo is running countless visionary project and cleaning up Mahama's mess. The NDC as a political party has really disappointed Ghanaians for giving us has such visionless Man who can only me associated with theivry, incompetent and visionless. Three years and u still dont have one better message to sell to Ghanaians, it tells you how lazy mentally he is, it tells me he doesn't think and plan for a better Ghana. Adongo comes with some concert party economics, your communication team plan a dubious propaganda to spread lies, deceit and noise, their leadership induce fear in their own members and can't think objectively and their leader shows up at any giving opportunity and display 1990 politics of small minds and no clue about governance. Welcome to 2019 and beyond, where we are going forward as people, we aspire to be the best in everything and we shun laziness, inept, deceit, greedy people, visionless leaders, propaganda and selfishness. We don't care whether you are NDC or NPP, Ghana must join the top leagues countries within 30 years. If you want to lead this country, Akuffo Addo's vision is the standard now, put-up or shut-up.