Ministry of Education Hits Back At Prof. Naana Opoku Agyeman

The Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Education, Ekow Vincent Assafuah says government will not relent in its effort to educate the public more about its newest policy - the double-track intake system at the Senior High School level from September 2018.

Mr. Assafuah was emphatic that government has nothing to hide hence the reason why President Akufo-Addo released a statement on the yet-to-be rolled out policy in September.

His comment comes after former Education Minister, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang said that government should make documents covering the semester system available for public scrutiny.

“We can’t jump onto the fray when the policy document which will spell out how this programme will be run isn’t shared with the public; it will help in knowing what the policy is about and, to a large extent, help us predict it’s outcome,” Prof. Agyemang told Accra-based Joy FM on Tuesday.

But Mr. Assafuah took to Facebook to question why the former Minister could not introduce such policy whiles at post when the National Democratic Congress (NDC) introduced the Progressively Free Senior High School Education when they were in power.

“It has come to my notice a statement made by Prof Naana Opoku Agyeman, Former Minister of Education, appealing to government to make available policy documents on the double track system.

“The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, released a statement that from September 2018, Government will implement the double intake system for new entrants into the country’s public Senior High Schools, which will address the growing numbers of about 30% increase in students benefiting from the Free SHS policy in the 2018/2019 academic year.

“Her appeal has been taken in good faith, she implemented Progressively Free Senior High School Education and failed to present a policy document of any kind on the said Free SHS suddenly and yet finds it prudent to ask for same. The public will be enlightened in due course amidst stakeholder discussions,” he said.

Adding that, “All things being equal, government will roll out the double track system to take care of the huge numbers joining the Free SHS flagship programme to ensure that no child is left behind. This new system will increase contact hours, reduce congestion in classroom and ensure efficient and continual use of facilities. This system is guided by the ultimate aim of safeguarding access and quality”.