Source: newsthemegh.com
Former President John Mahama has promised add private school students also to the Free SHS programme if he wins 2024 elections.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate emphasized the value of private schools working with the government to give Ghanaian youngsters a top-notch education.
Speaking during the Ghana National Association of Private Schools’ 2024 Annual Week Celebration kickoff, Mr. Mahama praised the private schools’ enormous contributions to the educational field throughout the years.
He described them as trailblazers and pacesetters introducing new teaching techniques and procedures into the system.
The former president used the Montessori program as an illustration, claiming that private schools were the first to adopt the curriculum before certain public schools adopted its teaching and learning-enhancing strategies.
Mr. Mahama went on to say that because of their teacher-to-pupil ratio, private schools are better at handling special needs students. He is guiding the NDC to victory in the next presidential and legislative elections in December.
He clarified that due to the large enrollment in public schools, it is difficult for teachers to provide for every student, particularly those with special needs.
He stated that private schools are consequently essential to the field of education.
Mr. Mahama gave the Association of Private Schools the assurance that an NDC government would prioritize education and convene all sector players to examine the entire education system, from primary to post-secondary education.
He declared that in order to provide a solid basis for the education sector, his government would begin making significant investments in basic education in 2025.
In terms of secondary education, the head of the NDC pledged to incorporate private secondary schools into the free SHS initiative, given that numerous private schools possess the requisite infrastructure and people capital to facilitate the program.
Mr. Mahama cited a recent Edu-Watch report that showed how parents and the government continue to split the expense of secondary school, with parents still covering roughly 77% of the total cost of raising a kid even after the free SHS policy was put into place.