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Financial Secretary of the National Associate of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Mr. Seth Oduro Boadu is beseeching President Akufo-Addo to make the Free Senior High School [SHS] policy admiring by paying schools’ grants on time to avoid negative comment to impair the good policy.

According to him, inasmuch as it is a good policy which is wholeheartedly welcomed by NAGRAT especially the inclusion of teachers housing scheme, he feared the policy will receive a backlash if Nana Addo’s administration does not ensure timely payment of schools’ grants.

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 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.”

“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.

Speaking on Okay FM’s 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, Mr. Oduro Boadu said NAGRAT is happy to note that there will be affordable housing scheme for teachers in addition to the Free SHS policy; thus President Akufo-Addo’s statement has put to rest every doubts raised about the Free SHS during the elections campaign season.

“We are happier to note that affordable housing scheme for teachers is included in the Free SHS policy. This shows that Nana Addo’s government is not only concerned about students and parents but teachers as well. Some time ago, free school uniforms and school buildings were the concern of the government without teachers’ allowances and salaries being championed by anybody,” he averred.

He indicated that teachers’ affordable housing scheme is long overdue; thus NAGRAT will support the scheme and the Free SHS policy with prayers so that the dream becomes a reality for Ghanaians.

He however pleaded with Ghanaians to carry out their state responsibilities by being faithful to the payment of their taxes in order to have enough money for the government to use it for meaningful projects to benefit everyone.

He further advised parents to take advantage of the Free SHS policy to ensure their children stop loitering around and make use of the opportunity created by Nana Addo’s government.

“Everybody in the education sector should also ensure we get involved in this policy to ensure its success. This is a good policy but I will plead with the government to timely send the schools’ grants to the various institutions. We believe this government has well cut out plan for this policy and so we hope such a challenge will not be experienced so that people don’t speak ill about this good policy,” he implored.