[ 2017-02-13 ]

Free SHS feasible – GNAT
It is possible for any prudent government to
implement a Free Senior High School programme in
the country, David Ofori Acheampong, General
Secretary of the Ghana National Association of
Teachers (GNAT), has said.

According to him, if any government prioritises
education and does its homework well and gets the
figures right with regards to the cost of
implementing such a policy, it should be
workable.

His comments follow concerns expressed by some
stakeholders, including retired diplomat KB
Asante, that the Free SHS programme proposed by
President Akufo-Addo is not sustainable.

Mr Akufo-Addo, who was the Special Guest of Honour
at the 60th anniversary celebration of Okuapeman
Senior High School, indicated in his speech on
Saturday February 11 that “government will fund
the cost of public senior high schools for all
those who qualify for entry from September this
year”.

He explained: “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.”

The president further indicated that the policy
would also cover agricultural, vocational, and
technical institutions at the high school level.

Speaking in an interview with Chief Jerry Forson,
host of Ghana Yensom, on Accra 100.5FM on Monday
February 13, Mr Acheampong said: “If you are a
government and you spend prudently and do proper
research, you should be able to do it, it is
possible.”

“Education should be a national developmental
agenda so that irrespective of the government in
place, that agenda would be followed. And, so,
there should be broader consultation with all
major stakeholders on the matter.”

Statesman K.B. Asante had earlier said on the same
show that although the idea was commendable, he
doubted the government can sustain it. “We voted
for a government and we think it will competently
administer the country. If the money [were] not
there, I don’t think the government would have
announced it, so let us assume that the money will
be there.”

“From the little I know about financing, I do
not think we can sustain it, but I am not in
charge and I don’t have all the facts and
figures, so let’s hope for the best.”

Source - classfmonline.com

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