The Deputy Education Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has asked critics of the progressive free Senior High School(SHS) policy not to compare it with a similar programme the opposition New Patriotic Party(NPP) preached in the 2012 election.
[contextly_sidebar id=”kKaVa8uoV8mFW99ke8UU1q0TbYi7L5jo”]Speaking at Thursday’s “Government For the People” forum in Accra, Ablakwa said“ the difference in our policy is that we believe that you must do things right…”
“…by September 2015 we would have increased the number of spaces available to our products from the Junior High School. President Mahama indeed had a right diagnosis and he is keeping according to his pledge.”
“Free SHS policy was the main campaign message of the NPP in the 2012 general elections.
It was criticized by the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) but President John Mahama in his 2014 State of the Nation address announced that his administration was going to introduce a progressive free SHS education.
His announcement has received wide spread criticism from different quarters while some teacher unions have also expressed grave concerns that the policy will affect the quality of education.Government nonetheless is putting measures in place to begin the implementation of the policy in January 2015.
Mr. Okudzeto said government has begun rolling out series to programmes to ensure that the policy becomes a reality next year.
Meanwhile government has revealed that over 3,000 students are expected to benefit from the programme.
The Deputy Minister has said he is confident government will sustain the free SHS programme.
By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana