[ 2017-03-27 ]

President Akufo-Addo

Akufo-Addo reveals source of funding for free SHS
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was at the
90th anniversary of the Krobo Girls’ Senior High
School in the Eastern Region over the weekend,
shedding further light on the free education
programme.

The president reiterated his government’s
resolve to roll out the free SHS policy from the
2017/2018 academic year.

Though the source of funding of the policy was
settled by the Minister of Finance, Ken
Ofori-Atta, on Thursday, March 2, when he read the
2017 budget statement, it appears part of the
proceeds from the country’s oil resources may
also be used for the rollout.

This will then support an earlier indication by
Senior Minister Yaw Osafo Marfo that the Heritage
Fund will be used. Mr Ofori-Atta had stated in the
budget statement that government will use annual
budget funding amount (ABFA) to fund the free SHS
policy.

But speaking at the 90th anniversary of Krobo
Girls’ SHS on Saturday, President Akufo-Addo
said government will use “the proceeds from our
natural resources, as captured in the ‘Asempa
Budget’, to help educate the population to drive
our economic transformation”.

He explained that: “Instead of the revenues from
our mineral and oil resources ending up in the
hands of a few people, I am of the firm belief
that the most equitable and progressive way of
using these revenues is to educate and empower our
population”.

“It is for this reason,” he added, “that my
government has indicated that it will fund the
cost of Senior High School for all, beginning with
the intake of the 2017/2018 academic year.”

The president clarified that free SHS will also
cover agricultural, vocational and technical
education. He also indicated that teachers will
not be left out in the grand scheme to get a
majority of the population educated.

“For us to make a success of our education
policy, we must pay attention to teachers.

It is only a crop of well-trained, self-confident
and contented teachers that can deliver the
educated and skilled workforce we require to
transform our economy.

Government intends to restore the teaching
profession to the status it once enjoyed, and make
it an attractive career choice.”

Source - 3news.com

... go Back