Deputy Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has stressed that it is better for children to learn and eat under trees than hawk on the streets and go hungry.
Reacting to Member of Parliament of North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa’s statement that the 2018 budget did not provide enough funds to address the current challenges the programme is facing, Dr Adutwum said “I’ll rather have children learning under trees that walking on the streets and selling dog chains. I’ll rather have children eating under trees than going hungry”.
The Former Deputy Minister for education accused government of failing to do enough to resolve the many challenges facing the Free Senior High School.
According to him, government did not allocate enough funds for the rolling out of the project and have repeated the same thing in the 2018 budget by allocating just GH¢1.13billion for the programme for the next academic year.
He said, “When we told our colleagues on the other side that the allocation of the GH¢400 million was inadequate they called us names, today the finance minister came to parliament and told us the allocation was inadequate… they have done the same thing again in the 2018 budget".
He added that “the whole Ghana expected that this 2018 budget under education would have come with a marshal plan, a rescue package for the free SHS disaster but “this budget has not made an allocation to address these challenges”.
To avoid being accused of engaging in propaganda, Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa presented some graphical demonstrations of students in some Senior High schools in the country, sitting on cement blocks to study and others learning under trees whilst others had to keep their belongings (trunks and chop boxes) outside and sleep on the floor due to lack of the necessary infrastructure.
In his defence, Deputy Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, said the NPP administration was aware that the rolling out of the Free SHS programme will face some challenges before deciding to go ahead with it.
“We did not go into the implementation of Free Senior High School with allusions that it’s all going to be hunky-dory… but no child can wait their turn until everything is great in this country before they can have the opportunity for secondary education,” he said.
He added that “as a child who grew up in the rural area who almost did not go to Senior High School, I sit here, and I feel like the poor children of this nation who have now been given the opportunity to attend Senior High School are now being insulted”.
Dr Adutwum said the Akufo-Addo government has created a level platform for all to get adequate Senior High School education and with time all the challenges were going to be over.
Source: Ghanaweb
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Of course you will be happy for other parent’s kids to study under any situation, as long as your kids and siblings are not among them. Get the fund for the needed school and stop this trash talks. Why can't NPP trolls here are so blind to follow so blindly of whatever their party hierarchy throws at them. This is about future of Ghanaian kids and not about NPP self-absolved knows it all syndromes. If Manama’s boys were kids with sharp teeth then, the current Nana’s old men are full of themselves; there are too much display of arrogance and impunity.
i believe some of the challenges facing free shs has been there before the introduction of free shs eg school under trees,no toilets at some schools,not giving quality foods,teacher abscentism etc.i think those worried about the free shs are doing so bcus majority of ghanaians will be able to read and understand things for ourselves,we will not need any politician to twist issues for us,we cannot be deceived and act ignorantly thas why they are worried!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can we have the number of ministers whose children have enrolled for the free SHS? Either they have them in the well equipped schools where the PTAs and Old Student Unions are vibrant or in the International Schools. The environment and quality of food given to children impact on their learning.
May the good lord grant these sharp-teethers the strength to continue to oppose this brilliant policy on free SHS, that ALL POOR parents are excited about. Their permanent place shall be where they are today (OPPOSITION), and organizing press conferences forever.
Mr. Ablakwa, did refer to the free SHS program as as disaster? Dont worry, posterity will play your words back at you and you would know how dishonorable you have been to this nation
The competence level of the NPP minister is suspect in fact very very low standard such that studying under three is 'better'. Aim high. Your Doctorate Degree is Suspect probably is from under three somewhere in Cambodia
Ghanaians are too funny!!!!! Truly it is not unusual to find classes being held on lawns and in open spaces in advanced nations like the US when the weather permits. The Minister may not have been too diplomatic but as a parent and grandparent I would rather have my kids and grandkids study under trees, sleep on hard floors if necessary to get an education. With limited national resources our leaders must be committed to "cutting our coats" according to our available cloth.
THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MATURED MAN AND A PREMATURE MAN. JUST LOOK AT THE QUALITY OF THEIR PRESENTATIONS
I hope his children are studying under trees and sleeping in open space.
ABROKWA YOUR WAY OF CRITICISM IS WRONG. I believe that govt should be reminded to improve the infrastructure.I don't agree with you. I attended WASS at Newtown and completed in 1986.In form three business we were sitting on logs for classes. In form four business the furniture was not enough so we were standing to take notes. BUT by the grace of God, I completed my A'level went to Accra Aca and to the University of Ghana. I am a Chartered Accountant and an MBA holder. Therefore it better for them to sleep on the bare floor than selling dog chains.