Criticism on Free SHS Must Cease – Akufo-Addo

-

President Akufo-Addo has urged critics to shift their focus from criticizing the Free SHS policy towards finding ways to enhance its effectiveness. During his national address, he emphasized that the Free SHS initiative has been successful and transformative, providing educational opportunities that go beyond the basic level of formal education.

The President defended the Free SHS policy, highlighting its achievement in unearthing talents that might have otherwise been overlooked. He praised the program for dispelling fears of declining educational standards, especially evidenced by the positive outcomes reflected in the 2023 WASSCE results.

Related To This: Gov't Must Acknowledge Funding Issues Surrounding Free SHS - IFEST

Acknowledging the policy's impact, President Akufo-Addo expressed gratitude for the program's contribution to the development of a more skilled workforce. He emphasized that even for students who do not pursue further education after Senior High School, the enhanced education and self-confidence gained through Free SHS make a valuable contribution to the workforce.


Since its inception in 2017, the Free SHS policy has benefitted over 5.7 million Ghanaian students, as reported by Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch). The significant rise in secondary school enrolment, from 813,448 to 1.3 million students, is attributed to the implementation of Free SHS.

However, despite its successes, the policy has faced criticism and challenges. Institutions like the Institute of Statistical, Social, and Economic Research (ISSER) have raised concerns about the financial sustainability and quality issues of the program. ISSER has emphasized the need for a review, particularly focusing on the fiscal constraints and increasing teacher-student ratios affecting learning outcomes.

Related To This: Review Free SHS For Parents To Assist You - NUGS To Government

In seeking to address these challenges, recommendations from institutions like the World Bank have emphasized means-testing, cost-sharing arrangements, and improved funding mechanisms to enhance the long-term viability and quality of the Free SHS program.

Dr. Peter Anti of the Institute for Education Services (IFEST) underscored the importance of recognizing and addressing funding constraints in the Free SHS program. He emphasized the need for infrastructure improvements and proactive planning to accommodate the surge in student enrollment effectively.

Dr. Anti called for accountability among educational leaders to tackle existing challenges within the education system, emphasizing the necessity of collaborative efforts to find sustainable solutions.

Related To This: "Free SHS Policy Must Be Redefined To Include Basic Infrastructure" - Dr. Owusu Sarkodie

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

GJA Calls For Media Blacklist on Yendi MP for Allegedly Assaulting Journalist

-
Image
In response to allegations of assault against Mohammed Aminu M. Alabira, the Northern Regional Correspondent for Citi TV, the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has called for a national media boycott of Farouk Aliu Mahama, the Member of Parliament for Yendi. Important industry actors have endorsed the GJA's directive: the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), the Private Newspaper Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG), and the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA). Related To This: Hawa Koomson Threatens to Sue GJA President Over Assault Allegations The coalition asked all media outlets to uphold Farouk Aliu Mahama's blacklisting till further notice during a joint press conference on Tuesday, February 6. The media professionals were put at serious risk due to the MP's purported connections to those who could potentially pose a threat to journalists. The groups emphasized, "All media houses must refrain from providing any coverage, interviews, or a
Read more

Taxes Now Serve as Punishment to Businesses - Mark Badu-Aboagye

-
Image
The Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry's CEO, Mark Badu-Aboagye, has expressed grave concerns about the growing burden of direct and indirect taxes placed on the country's enterprises.  During an open discussion on JoyNews' PM Express, Mr. Badu-Aboagye brought attention to the mounting difficulties that businesses are facing in light of rising expenses and financial commitments, especially with regard to tax responsibilities. Related To This: Akufo-Addo's Imposed Tax Policies Will Make The Next President Suffer - Franklin Cudjoe Mr. Badu-Aboagye expressed his dismay and emphasized the unsettling consequences of the existing tax structure, describing it as harsh and onerous for companies aiming for expansion and sustainability.  He underlined, saying, "I believe that rather than helping businesses, our taxes now serve as a punishment to them. This is because they expect you to pay, but we are unable to. They are beating us but they are telling us to keep quiet.&
Read more

Use Emission Tax Funds to Support EPA - Professor Kofi Amegah

-
Image
The University of Cape Coast's renowned environmental and nutritional epidemiology lecturer, Professor Kofi Amegah, has suggested that money from emission levies be used to support environmental protection organizations.  During his February 1 appearance on The Pulse on JoyNews, Professor Amegah emphasized how vital it is to improve the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) capacity to efficiently track pollution levels and strengthen environmental conservation measures. Related To This: Implementation of Emissions Levy Act Commences Today Professor Amegah emphasized the need to reallocate a portion of the proceeds from the emission tax in order to relieve the EPA's budgetary constraints, given its limited resources. He highlighted that such support would enable the acquisition of reference-based monitors, which, when installed in urban areas, can furnish essential data vital for formulating effective air pollution control policies. Additionally, the resulting data would
Read more