Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has rejected claims by former Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia that Ghana’s Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme is in crisis.
According to the Education Minister, the Free SHS policy remains firmly on course under the John Dramani Mahama administration, following measures introduced to address challenges associated with its implementation.
Haruna Iddrisu made the remarks during the opening of a stakeholder engagement on the implementation of the New Free SHS Policy at Adukrom.
Haruna Iddrisu Responds to Bawumia’s Free SHS Claims
The Education Minister said Dr Bawumia’s assessment of the Free SHS programme failed to take into account the challenges that previously affected the policy and the corrective measures introduced by the current government.
He argued that the Free SHS programme required a review to improve its implementation and ensure that students continue to benefit from the policy.
Iddrisu said the government had taken steps to strengthen the programme and address concerns surrounding Free SHS funding, student welfare and education delivery.
Education Minister Rejects Claims of Food Shortages
Haruna Iddrisu also dismissed claims that students in some senior high schools were going without adequate meals.
He described such assertions as inaccurate, arguing that measures taken by President John Dramani Mahama to uncap the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) had helped improve food supplies across senior high schools.
According to the minister, the availability of food in schools can be verified by parents, students and other stakeholders based on evidence from the schools.
The government has positioned improved funding and student welfare as key components of efforts to strengthen the Free SHS programme in Ghana.
Haruna Iddrisu Speaks on Free Education in Ghana
The Education Minister also challenged suggestions that free education in Ghana began only under the previous administration.
He said free education has existed at different levels in Ghana since independence, describing this as a matter of historical record.
Iddrisu maintained that discussions about Ghana’s education system should be based on evidence and the country’s broader educational history.
Government Reviews New Free SHS Policy
The stakeholder engagement forms part of ongoing efforts by the government to review and strengthen the implementation of the New Free SHS Policy.
The discussions are expected to focus on addressing implementation challenges, improving student welfare and ensuring sustainable funding for senior high school education.
The government says the broader objective is to strengthen Free SHS in Ghana and ensure that students across the country continue to have access to quality secondary education.
Source: newsthemegh.com