The President of the Republic, 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 the details of policy, “so that no one in Ghana is left in any doubts”, President Akufo-Addo 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.”
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”.
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.
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, in concluding, 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: Peacefmonline.com
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Eii Nana pls take ur time oo.Hmmm Ghanaians are watching. Dnt be like Trump. Ask for God's guidance cos ur premises are huge and some are unrealistic. Just imagined everything free free. YOOOO remember AHS is not the only expenditure of the govt.
Nana, it looks like you are still campaigning because the publication still has npp colours and logo. May be your people forgot it but you are now president of Ghana not npp. Your policies are now Ghana Government Policies so kindly inform your communicators to check that. John Boadu was giving Mahama ultimatum to remove NDC logo from flagstaff house during the campaign and I think it is only right your communicators live up to that standard.
We know you are for private sector participation can you convince us that free SHS will not become like free basic schools where everybody is withdrawing their children from the free public basic schools to the private basic schools at exorbitant prices? Free but poor quality public SHS would only open the floodgates for expensive quality private SHS. Then everybody will like to send their children to the few higher grade/ quality public SHS in the cities and popular places at higher cost which money goes into private pockets- you need to pay a bribe, you need to see a staff/ bishop/ chief or someone influential to get admission. These issues cannot be brushed aside.
jONATHAN Lagos has never and will never make single sen.si.ble contribution on any platform in this world. I wonder if he has hu.man brain in his skull. A person like jONATHAN is adding up to Ghanaian population. I pity it (jONATHAN) parents.
The government cannot throw money down the drain in the free SHS program. Akufo-Addo must ensure that only serious students are exempted from the payment of school fees. Students who are not serious cannot waste the tax payers money.
There will be cut-off point just like the system being applied in the public universities so no cause for alarm
What if all students say they want to be in boarding school to enjoy all the free free? will you then chose kids that you prefer?
If you make everything absolutely free then who gets boarding school and who gets day school? would it not be unfair to some children when you make selective choices for boarding? when you finish sharing everything free free what will be left for infrastructural development? don't bring down our beautiful country to the likes of Somalia. I foresee these free free policies to make Ghana dirtiest country in the world. Nana will only create the chaos and step down, watch out!
Let me tell you that apart from the financial burden this policy will put on our limited resources. 1. How will they descided which student should be day or bording since both are free? 2. How will this policy adress the already congested and delapidated bording facilities in our secondary schools?
Dial 2017 and press #..u ll find the source of the money.Are u the finance minister? #DUNG