President Akufo Addo says he is skeptical about suggestions to review the Free Senior High School Policy.
According to President Akufo Addo, the expected outcome of the policy-expansion of access and improve quality of education have been achieved therefore reviewing the policy may compromise these main purpose of the policy.
“The outcomes of the free SHS graduates are a major improvement on the free SHS data that we have. Mathematics, integrated science whatever, across board. Each one of these areas of study has seen a significant improvement of study in the results of the students. So when we call for review what is review?. Review is such that, these improvement we are seeing some are going to be compromised. I will not accept it. What we cannot do was to temper with these two fundamentals (1) the access. We have to make sure that everybody in this country no matter their social origin no matter their financial background has access to good quality secondary education. So we have access and we also have the quality, and of this five years of implementation these have been established. The data is there.”
The President therefore added “So I have to confess, I am somewhat skeptical when I hear this discussion about let’s review let’s review. I am not saying those making the suggestions -the elderly, clergy oppose the policy I don’t want to be misunderstood but I want to understand the areas which they are looking for the review”. He in an interview on Republic FM in Kwahu during the first day of his tour of the Eastern region.
President Akufo Addo said, his understanding of calls to review the policy particularly from members of the opposition party is to reverse the free SHS policy.
“First People who were talking about review were the people they didn’t want the policy in the first place. So I have to confess, my instinct, my attitude which is when I hear the word review I hesitate because first people who suggested review are the people who opposed the policy in the first place .so my understanding from someone who has been against the policy to review is to reverse the policy. Other people have entered the discussion who have said yes ,it is a good idea but this and that, but the two fundamental trust of the policy is one was to expand access; that has been dramatically achieved, the other was to improve quality.”
The Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) in a recent meeting in Koforidua reiterated call for review of the policy for cost sharing with parents to help resolve funding and feeding challenges facing the policy.
Source: Mybrytnewsroom.com/Obed Ansah
