The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has declared that the government of Ghana has successfully implemented the free Senior High School policy in the country. This is considered a major milestone achieved within the education sector by the country. At a public event on [insert date], Bawumia spoke of how the policy has transformed the lives of students, parents, and the nation at large.
The policy, introduced by the governing New Patriotic Party in 2017, was aimed at affording every Ghanaian child an opportunity for second-cycle education irrespective of the background of the child. Under the policy, the government absorbs tuition fees, admission fees, and other costs associated with attendance at senior secondary school, significantly easing the burden on guardians and parents.
"Today, we can boast that Free SHS has taken off in every corner of the country," Bawumia said. "This policy is not only increasing access to education; it has also resulted in improved enrollment rates and reduced dropout rates among students."
The Vice President explained that currently, the number of students benefiting from Free SHS exceeds the 1.2 million mark, as opposed to the 800,000 who initially enrolled in second-cycle schools before the advent of the policy. Additionally, this policy has witnessed increased female enrollment, which was previously lower compared to male enrollment in most parts of the country.
In his remarks, Bawumia pointed out that the policy also formed part of the government's wider agenda to improve human capital development and to build a stronger economy capable of competing in many spheres. He also hailed the heavy investment the government had made in infrastructure, such as building new schools and renovating old ones to accommodate the surging numbers of students.
However, critics of the policy have complained about its sustainability and the burden that it places on the national budget. "As I speak, the government is working to ensure that the policy is refined for optimum functioning and, more importantly, for sustainability beyond this administration; adding that successive governments will continue with this good work," Bawumia said.
The free SHS policy has been hailed as one of the flagship initiatives by the President Nana Akufo-Addo administration, which continues to up-scale educational opportunities to all Ghanaians.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0