We need to have a national conversation about Free SHS – Haruna Iddrisu
The Minority in Ghana’s legislature is not convinced about the government’s stance about its flagship programs which includes free SHS despite efforts to save the worsening economic situation from spiralling out of control.
The caucus insists that there needs to be a conversation on the Free Senior High School policy.
“We think there must be a national conversation on the future of education in our country,” Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu stated on Thursday, March 24 in reaction to the Minister of Finance’s announcement that government will not review the Free SHS policy.
“There must be because we shudder [and] have a course to believe that we are investing in literacy and numeracy and not human capital.
“It is only in Ghana that at the basic level everybody passes. That cannot be competitive and that cannot make our products competitive in the world tomorrow.”
During his earlier address on measures adopted by the government to resolve the economic challenges, Ken Ofori-Atta reiterated that President Akufo-Addo harbours no intentions to scrap Free SHS.
“Let me say this, President Akufo-Addo has absolutely no intention to roll back on any of the major policies like the Free SHS,” he said.
“We see education as the best enabler for sustainable growth to ensure transformation. We will do more to improve on it for it to serve better our children.”
Initially, there was a debate on a review of the policy after the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, hinted that one of the fallouts from last week’s Cabinet retreat was to have a review of all of the government’s 16 flagship programmes including Free SHS.
But Mr Ofori-Atta, allayed the fears of Ghanaians indicating that they will continue to be in place.
Other measures were rather revealed by the Finance Minister in the effort to salvage the ailing economy.
Among these measures are banning foreign travel for public officers unless it is utterly necessary and pre-approved, cutting fuel coupons down to 50 per cent for government appointees and not establishing any new public institutions.
