By Maxwell Ofori, Jubilee House Accra President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has announced that his flagship campaign promise –the free Senior High School – will commence in September this year, when the new academic year begins. This is in line with his administration’s commitment towards improving on the standard of education in the country. […]
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By Maxwell Ofori, Jubilee House Accra
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has announced that his flagship campaign promise –the free Senior High School – will commence in September this year, when the new academic year begins. This is in line with his administration’s commitment towards improving on the standard of education in the country.
Speaking at the 60th Anniversary celebration of Okuapeman School over the weekend, the President described as a ‘dying shame’ for the country, that some Ghanaian children could not make it into a classroom after years of independence, adding that it was something that could not, and should not, continue.
“We must ensure that every child in Ghana gets an education. The proposal, made during 2008, 2012 and 2016 elections for all of Ghana’s children to attend public Senior High School for free, was the beginning of that vision. We now have the opportunity to make the vision real. The Government of Ghana will fund the cost of public Senior High Schools for all those who qualify for entry from the 2017/2018 academic year onwards,” he remarked.
The President, however, took time to explain what he meant by free education to clear people’s doubts over the possibility of that policy.
“Let me take this opportunity to spell out clearly what we intend to do, so that no one in Ghana is left in any doubt. By free SHS, we mean that, in addition to tuition, which is already free, there will be no admission fees, no library fees, no science centre fees, no computer lab fees, no examination fees, no utility fees; there will be free textbooks, free boarding and free meals, and day students will get a meal at school for free. Free SHS will also cover agricultural, vocational and technical institutions at the high school level,” he expatiated.
Again, Nana Akufo-Addo stated emphatically his government’s intention to building new public SHSs. “I also want to state clearly again that we have a well-thought out plan that involves the building of new public Senior High Schools and cluster public Senior High Schools.”
With these plans out, the government ought to clear all doubts in people’s minds, especially the opposition party, that the NPP administration could not deliver on it promises of making SHS free for all. As stated by the President, the programme is to start from the 2017/2018 academic year. This translates to the fact that the first roll out would be in seven months from now, when the year’s academic calendar begins.
The President could not understand why the country lacks behind in terms of education. Using Singapore as an example, he noted that Ghana must use its resources meaningfully, to have a positive impact on education and the economy.
Singapore, after independence from Britain in 1959, and freedom from Malaysia in 1965, had no assets other than its deep-water port. Its population was illiterate and unskilled. It had few natural resources, substandard housing, and recurring conflict among the ethnic and religious groups that made up its population. Singapore, at the time, imported most of its food, water and energy.
The leaders of Singapore, therefore, decided to make education the focus of all developmental efforts, because they saw education as central to building the economy and the nation.
Once the decision was taken, they rapidly built schools and recruited teachers on a large scale. Within six years, they had attained universal primary education, and by the early 1970s, they attained universal lower secondary education, and they have never looked back since then. Today, Singapore is widely acknowledged as having one of the world’s leading economies and most advanced and successful education systems. In a country with no natural resources, this is a remarkable feat, and reiterates what one of its Prime Ministers famously said: “The wealth of a nation lies in its people.”
The President promised to build a new science resource centre, fully equipped, for Okuapeman School. This followed a request by the Headmaster of the school, Mr Daniel Afari, that the government renovate the facility to improve on quality of education.
The President indicated that he wanted every Ghanaian child to attend secondary school, not just for what they learn in books, but for the life experiences they will gain. “I want each of them to look in the mirror in the morning; every morning; and know that they can achieve anything they dream of when they complete their studies. I want them to be confident that what they study is relevant to the demands of today, and of tomorrow. I want every Ghanaian child to be comfortable in the knowledge that when they work hard, they are as capable, as anyone else in the world. And I want parents to look upon their children with pride, as they watch them mature into self-confident adults.
“To those of you students listening to me today, I say you are living in, perhaps, the most exciting times in our history. Most of you have grown up under the longest uninterrupted period of democracy and stability in our history. This period has also coincided with the longest sustained period of growth in our economy. Despite the challenges we face, democracy has been good for our nation, and I am convinced it will be even better still for us. Some say this is our time. I say this is your time, and tomorrow will be the time of your children.
“I cannot end these remarks without saying anything about our teachers. A well-trained, confident and contented teacher is at the heart of my government’s delivery of quality education. The views of teachers will be sought on education policy, innovation and implementation. Their professional development and needs will be treated with respect, and we shall ensure that teachers’ salaries and allowances are paid regularly, and on time. Teacher trainee allowances, as already announced by the Vice President, will be restored in the first budget of the Akufo-Addo presidency, scheduled for next month.
“In addition to these, my administration will also focus on the provision of incentives that will motivate teachers and reward their hard work in the classroom. Government will collaborate with GNAT, NAGRAT, and other teaching associations to facilitate an affordable housing scheme for teachers. Teachers will be afforded the opportunity to upgrade their qualifications, and we aim to make the teaching profession, once again, a proud choice.”
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