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President Nana Akufo-Addo has come under fire from former president John Dramani Mahama for his administration’s persistent failure to examine the program’s centrepiece, free senior high schooling.
Mr. Mahama claims that the politicization of education by the government and the sacrifice of quality for quantity have led to the underfeeding of boarding pupils.
He claimed that if President Akufo-administration Addo’s had invited private institutions to assess the free senior high school program, it might have prevented psychological pain for parents.
Former President John Mahama urged the government to take into consideration holding a national stakeholders’ conference to review the implementation of free senior high school while addressing attendees at the 8th Biennial Delegate Conference of the Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) in Koforidua.
“The time is now for us to rise to the occasion and collectively agree as actors in the political and developmental space on the need to depoliticise issues of urgent priority such as education delivery in our country.”
He emphasized the importance of both access and quality of education.
The ex-President questioned, “What is the value of education if it does not have the quality to give the student a chance and opportunity in life.
Mr. Mahama urged the government to treat kids in both private and public institutions equally, adding that a future NDC administration will place a priority on creating a solid foundation at the elementary level.
“If you don’t get it right at the primary and basic level, whatever you do at the secondary level is a wasted effort. You need to build a strong foundation at the basic level.”
The three pillars of education—access, affordability, and quality—must not be compromised, he added, adding that the Free SHS is here to stay.
As a result, he underlined how important it is to include private schools in the free SHS policy.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
