Ghana’s next President, John Dramani Mahama, has reaffirm his commitment in providing quality education to Ghanaians by continuing the Free SHS Policy.
Mr. John Dramani Mahama in an interview with Voice of America (VOA), categorically stated that, his government, will secure a dedicated funding to run the policy as he aims to make the Free SHS policy better resourced and efficient.
This he believes won’t only provide the opportunity for JHS leavers to continue their second cycle education but will also provide them with quality education without financial constraints.
“Free SHS has come to stay and it is not going anywhere. Nobody’s going to scrap Free SHS. What was said was political talk and it was just political gimmickry. We’re going to maintain the policy what we’re going to do is to get dedicated funding for it so that it is better resourced than it is currently.
“There’s a lot of waste in the system. We’re going to help to make it more efficient so that the teachers, the parents, and the students get the best out of the Free SHS.” He said
Mr. Mahama also explained that, his government will take a critical look at the “whole education value chain” in order to provide the best of education which will not be limited to second cycle education.
He bemoaned the fact that the current government in its bid to implement the Free SHS Policy has abandoned basic level education, a fate he said would change once he assumes office.
“We’re going to look at the basic school level too because we have focus on free SHS, we are abandoning the basic level and so the basic level is becoming a major problem.
“1.3 million pupils at a basic level do not have furniture, they don’t have tables and chairs to sit on. They lie on their stomachs in the classroom or sit on cement blocks and that’s because all our focus has been on the secondary school level, so we’re going to hold a national education forum and that forum is going to bring all the stakeholders together.
“We’re going to take a look at the whole education value chain. And we’re going to come and by consensus, all of us. It’s non-partisan. Everybody of every walk of life who has a stake in education is going to be at that conference and we’re going to take important decisions on how to reform our education so that the children get better quality.” The President-elect said
Source: Elvisanokyenews.com
