Former President John Dramani Mahama has reiterated that he will review the Akufo-Addo-led administration’s flagship Free-SHS Policy within his first 90-days in office if elected in the 2020 general elections. He noted that he will engage relevant stakeholders to ensure that the policy is bettered.
According to him, the current government did not listen to him on countless occasions as he said that a consultative and stakeholders meeting needed to be arranged to fashion out how best and efficiently to implement the free senior high school.
Mr Mahama has come under backlash from the ruling NPP and a section of Ghanaians over his criticisms against the education policy.
Speaking at a meeting with the leaders of the Ghana National Council for Private Schools (GNACOPS) in Accra on Wednesday he noted “within the first 90-days after I take office as the president of Ghana, I will call for the arrangement of a very broad stakeholder and consultative meeting on the way forward for a better free SHS.” He however promised not to turn his back to private basic schools when back to power.
“The NDC shall ensure that all issues raised which are feasible and doable will be factored into the NDC manifesto,” he said.
The Director of GNACOPS, MrEnoch Kwasi Gyetuah, in his presentation, said the private basic schools played massive role in the development of basic education in Ghana, which should not be discounted. He said the government should be firm with the private partnership arrangement in the provision of schools in deprived areas leading to ‘build operate and transfer (BOT)’ system.
He also said the government should consider tax exemptions for certain educational tools and equipment when imported into the country as well other relaxed tax regimes for private schools operators. “There should also be a policy framework that will ensure quality and effective professional teacher development in private schools,” he advised.
“I am happy to announce the achievement of GNACOPS in the professional training of private school teachers in the country, which has helped, most teachers to earn their title professional teachers which hitherto was not the case, and also in the training of almost 70,000 teachers in the country on the new curriculum,” he said. The Director further said GNACOPS was ever ready to engage all stakeholders as well as all political parties and the current government to push strongly for the welfare of private schools teachers, managers, owners and parents for the benefit and growth of the private sector participation in education.
He finally asked the NDC to provide a policy or program that would allow the government to give logistical support to the council in their day to day affairs should the NDC come back to government.
Prof. Joshua Alabi, an educationalist and a member of the NDC, indicated that he was impressed with the council and what they were doing to project the image of private basic schools in the country and urged the council to continue with their engagement with all stakeholders.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo, the National Chairman of the NDC, also lauded the council particularly for the presentation made by the director for GNACOPS.
“The NDC is in process of crafting a very brilliant manifesto which is holistic and employs the bottom of approach and that the meeting was timely,” he said.
Source: starrfm.com
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Mr.Mahama is trying very hard to insult Ghanaian;s integrity.Noble Ex-president Kuffour brought SHS duration to 4 years and NDC and Mahama said that they will review that policy when giv en the mandate truly , NDC and Mahama reduced the duration 3 years In fact, NDC will never enact any policy for the Ghanaian's but always resort to abrogate pro-poor policy for the citizenry. NDC and Mahama should create their own policies and stop i will review ans so forth. Mr Mahama once said a Government of 4 years mandate is not enough to produce results and the BIG question is NDC and Mahama are only seeking for only one term mandate and per his assessment is that mandate enough for the NDC and Mahama to develop Ghana or as usual only asking for create , loot and share mandate again
This JOhn Mahama does not have any campaign message. He is only moving round criticising what Nana is doing. Ghanaians are fed up with your devious and hateful attitude towards hardworking people. The private schools must advertise for clients because free shs will never be abolished.
A...............Mr Mahama, what are you going to review?.You don't even believe in the FREE SHS ideology and all your comments and that of your party clearly show that you will collapse the policy within the so-called 90 days.If you have anything to review then it should be the policies on guinea fowls which flew to Burkina, the one laptop per child and free sandals joke policies which backfired under your watch. Reading this article I didn't see any aspect of the policy and how you will review it. Tell us specific things about the policy and the pragmatic solutions to them and stop these rhetoric
Mr. Mahama, you once in your numerous campaign tours towards election 2016 indicated that Akuffo Addo can implement the Free SHS only with drug money. In your numerous jokes you said you will build estates with I TV, 1 Deep Freezer etc ostensibly to poopoo Akuffo Addo's 1V1D in the 3 Northern Regions and iD1F. I am sure you believed it could not be done or simply you couldn't imagine such thing to happen in Ghana. It is happening amidst difficulties which is true for any massive policy. It was a bold initiative by the NPP government. I wish you come up with something better than always trying to review something which is constantly under review. It is a shame on you to talk about these things. Your party is on record that the 1V1D in the Northern Regions were going to produce mosquitos. Your MP at Bongo chastise the Government for the unfortunate death of a child who drowned in one of the newly constructed dams in Bongo. I wish to advise you on the Free SHS because Ghanaians have come to believe the Government of NPP and no matter how you try to do damage control of your earlier statements, you will never succeed. You did all the roads in the nation and now bridges and roads you constructed just some 4 years ago are all collapsing. The schools you built couldn't stand the rains and anytime rain falls, either a whole school building you built collapses or a roof give in to water flooding the classroom. Mr. Former President you are a failure. Ghanaians will never give you a second chance this time. You may wait for another time. Your indecision on galamsey and the way you criticize the Akuffo Addo government on the approach to curb it was very insincere. You behaved like the proverbial Konongo Kaya. You could not carry but you are doing everything to stop your neighbor who can carry. Left with you, Ghanaians will be importing water now. What kind of a person are you? You have been rejected and you will never become a president today or tomorrow until the return of Satan. You are totally incompetent and you are rejected. A hypocrite of the highest order. Your meeting with the failed Law School entrees is another hypocrisy. Ghanaians are wild awake now. Your lies and hypocrisy will never win you presidency. Be wise and behave like a former President and an elder statesman.
Mahama, we already know you will review Free SHS just like the way you reviewed Nursing and Teacher training allowances. But this time Ghanaians won't give you the review mandate. You have become so boring with your utterances
How can you review a policy that you believe it can never be implemented. Your appointees been heard saying Ghana doesn't need FSHS. Come out with different things than building hope on challenges that even Kindergarten child can correct
REVIEW NDC AND STOP THAT NONONSESE, "I WILL REFORM THIS, REFORM THAT, REVIEW THIS, REVIEW THAT. CREATE YOUR ONW AND STOP THE CREATE, LOOT AND SHARE.
Review?> review what? review physical infastructure, subjects , review the freeness of education in terms of cost , review double track, review what? What alternative is he suggesting ? Didn't he organized same on the economy and the end result was IMF, conditionality of freezing public sector employment for developing country like Ghana?
MASTER MAN do not waste your time and money,We are not ready for you mow.
For what at all did John Mahama takes Ghanaians for Jerry Rawlings stay in political office just to sell all what he met example Ghana National Trading company Kingsway store United trading company John Holt Bartholomew RT Briscoe gihoc boat yards and you mahama came to deprived allowance from the school of blind deprived allowance from teachers and nursing training school impose tax on head porters Aka kayayei introduced double salary scheme to your ministers and still this man have the courage to be telling Ghanaians rubbish what did he do as vice president and president for 8 years