Free SHS; ‘There are powerful forces in society who are against it…………’ – Nana Addo

The Free Senior High School (SHS) policy is being opposed by some significant forces in the nation, according to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

President Nana Akufo-Addo claims efforts to frustrate the strategy that attempts to ease the poor’s access to education are failing.

However, the Free SHS program is being questioned because of issues with food and, to some extent, infrastructure issues.

Some schools have thought about closing because of these problems since they have trouble feeding their children.

Due to finance and supply issues, high schools have battled with a food deficit.

The President has already stated that the help from the International Monetary Fund will not have an impact on the Free Secondary Education Policy notwithstanding these calls.

“Already there are some who are eager to curtail some of the important initiatives such as the Free SHS policy. There are powerful forces in society who are against it and insisting that education should be what parents can afford or contribute. But I have a different view. I think the benefit of it to the society and nation are obvious”, the President said.

Akufo-Addo has stated that he is willing to engage in a national discussion about the government’s Free SHS initiative.

He said that such a discussion ought to cover funding, accessibility, and sustainability.

Education industry stakeholders have demanded more extensive consultation on the Free SHS policy, which many claim is riddled with difficulties.

Speaking in the National Union of Ghana Students ( NUGS) meeting, the president also said, even though the policy has been criticized by a number of people, it has come to stay.

“One of the things people are calling for is a review of free SHS. I think we should have a broader conversation about the incidence of education on our national development, and therefore also on our budgetary and public sector contributions to national education.”

 

 

 

by; Elizabeth Tamakloe

 

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