Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has warned that government will deal with persons whose actions are hindering the smooth implementation of the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy.
He said the government will move beyond naming and shaming to prosecute individuals engaging in fraudulent activities that threaten the success of the policy.
Vice President Bawumia gave the caution at the 50th Anniversary celebration of the enstoolment of Nana Boakye Tromu III as Omanhene of Duayaw Nkwanta Traditional Area in the Brong Ahafo Region, over the weekend.
The implementation of the free Senior High School (SHS) policy recently suffered some setbacks after some schools were faced with the challenge of inadequate infrastructure.
Vice President Bawumia said: “In spite of those challenges, government has successfully started the policy” adding that government will “ensure that no Ghanaian child is denied access to public secondary education.”
More than 400,000 children are currently benefiting from the Free Senior High School Policy, according to figures from the Ministry of Education.
Officials say but for the policy, at least 90,000 out of the 400,000 would not have benefited from secondary education.
Government is expected to spend close to GHc1 billion on the beneficiaries of the free SHS programme for this academic year, while the figure is expected to shoot up in subsequent years.
Many stakeholders have called on the government to create an avenue for multiple sources of funding for the program to ensure its sustainability.
In view of that, the Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta in the delivery of the government’s 2018 budget statement in parliament, announced that “with the successful launch of the free SHS programme, government received proposals from the public, several of which encourage the establishment of a fund to receive voluntary contributions to support education. Thankfully, the GETFund Law allows for the setting up of other education-related funds. In 2018, the Ministry will work with GET FUND to set up this education fund to enable Ghanaians make voluntary contributions to support education.”
–
Source : GNA