[ 2017-02-11 ]

President Akufo-Addo ‘abolishes’ admission, exams fees in Free SHS rollout
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has assured
that his government “will fund the cost of
public Senior High Schools for all those who
qualify for entry from the 2017/2018 academic year
onwards.”

Spelling out details of the policy, “so that no
one in Ghana is left in any doubts”, the
president explained that “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.”

President Akufo-Addo made this known on Saturday,
February 11, 2017, when, as the Special Guest of
Honour, he delivered a speech at the 60th
Anniversary celebration of Okuapeman School.

The President added further that “Free SHS will
also cover agricultural, vocational and technical
institutions at the high school level. 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”.

Speaking on the theme of the celebration, “One
Vision, Many Lives”, the President noted that a
society that aims to transform itself into a
modern, productive player in the global market
needs an educated workforce; and that means it
must get its educational policies right.

According to the President, the fact that “we
have been unable to give all our citizens the
education which has enabled the countries of the
West and of Asia to thrive is the missing link in
our economic development.”

For this reason, the President told the gathering
that he is committed, “without any equivocation,
without any reservation, without any doubt”, to
take Ghana to the stage where public Senior High
School education will be free for every Ghanaian
child.

Motivated Teachers
President Akufo-Addo noted that a well-trained,
confident and contented teacher is at the heart of
his government’s delivery of quality education.

He assured that “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.”

President Akufo-Addo also indicated that teacher
trainee allowances, as already announced by the
Vice President, will be restored in the first
budget of his presidency, which is scheduled for
next month.

“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,” he added.

The president pledged his commitment to the
renovation and the full equipping of the Science
Resource Centre of Okuapeman School as a
commemorative event of its 60th birthday

Source - Graphic.com.gh

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