The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Abuakwa North, Alhaji Umar Bodinga, has called for enhanced state support for private schools due to their significant contributions to the education sector in Ghana.
Speaking at the maiden graduation ceremony of Bright Senior High School in Akyem Kukurantumi in the Eastern Region, he emphasized that the role of private schools in providing quality education and training future human capital cannot be underestimated.
Alhaji Bodinga is among many dignitaries who have chosen to enroll their children in Bright Senior High School despite the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy.
He shared a personal testament, stating, “My son was here and had 7As in 2022 and 1B. He is now at the University of Ghana pursuing IT and performing well.” He added, “So it’s time the government also begins to start supporting. That’s why two years ago, when I visited the school, I gave them 10 LED streetlights.”
The Free SHS policy, launched in 2017, aimed to provide free access to secondary education in public schools for all Ghanaian students.
The policy has benefited over 2.5 million students with a total investment of GH¢12.88 billion.
Despite this significant investment, some parents, including high-profile personalities, choose to pay for private education citing higher standards.
“Free education is something that everybody has their own choice. I personally prefer private schools. Because if you look at free education, the government is doing its best but not up to the standard,” a parent said. Another parent, John Akrong, explained,
“As of now, some of them [in public SHS] are hungry. No food. Tomorrow they vacate. They go home for three months. But in private school, they come, you pay everything and give you time for vacation then you are settled. They also take care of the children well. When they are sick, they take good care of the children. Hardly before they call you, but in government school, tomorrow I am sick, today I’m sick, go to hospital to see the children, they are suffering. No food, nothing, so I prefer private school.” Another parent said.
Some parents argued for the inclusion of private schools with high educational standards in the Free SHS policy.
NDC flagbearer John Dramani Mahama has pledged to include private schools in the policy if elected.
Dr. Martin Otu Offei, a Senior Lecturer and NDC Parliamentary candidate for New Juaben South, believes this inclusion will ensure fairness and equal opportunity.
Dr. Otu Offei, whose children attended Bright SHS, testified to the high quality of education there.
“My son is an example of what has happened in this school, so it is important for people to understand that when they go to universities, they perform very well. My son completed here with good grades and has been in first class position since first year. The standard here is excellent. Even among the teachers, there are people with Ph.D. and very experienced teachers that have gone on retirement here,” Dr. Otu Offei said.
The Abuakwa North Municipal Director of Education, Grace Adza-Wude, acknowledged the contributions of Bright SHS to the education sector and pledged to include them in capacity-building programs to ensure quality education is enhanced.
President of Bright Senior High School Bright Amponsah assured parents that more investments will be made to continuously improve quality of education in the school to ensure students are imbibed with knowledge and skills needed to climb the academic Callander.
Mr. Dominic Acquah, explained that the graduation ceremony has been instituted as annual event due to demand by some foreign universities from their old students as evidence of graduating from High school
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
