President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has reiterated his view on the proposed review of the Free Senior High School policy.
The President recognizing the calls by some groups and civil society organization to review the policy which was introduced in 2017 said, he is aware of the forces in society clamoring for the review but disagree with their view.
He said this when he met with the leader of the National Union of Ghana students (NUGS) at the Jubilee house.
“There are some who are eager to curtail some of these important initiatives like the free Senior High Schools policy. Powerful forces in the society that are against it and insisting that education should be what your parents can afford, [they want parents] to contribute to pay for education, same at the tertiary level but I have a different view, it is a public good, the benefits to the society are obvious.”
It will be recalled that, former president John Dramani Mahama has suggested to the government to have a stakeholder engagement on the Free SHS policy, a call that has been turned down.
The former President recently speaking at Koforidua in the Eastern Region reiterated his call for stakeholder engagement of the policy.
“Any opportunity to encourage this government to consider a National Stakeholder Conference to review the implementation of the policy. There are so many educational professionals and experts, including many of you in this room, who will be able and willing to bring the wealth of experience and knowledge and put it at the disposal of government,”
Religious body such as the Presbytarian Church of Ghana has also added their voice to call for the government to take a second look at the policy.
In a communique after a General Assembly Meeting, the Church while applauding the president of introducing such a good policy and their resolve to keep the programme even in the face of IMF programme said,
“Your Excellency, the Presbyterian Church of Ghana is of the strong opinion that the state can shed off some of these costs for those who are capable of bearing them to do so because there are several parents who are capable and willing to contribute to the education of their children.”
The 22nd General Assembly was held between Wednesday, August 10 and Sunday, August 14 on the theme: ‘Christ in you, the Hope of Glory’.
source: theGhanaianvoice.com
