Huge free investments in SHS compromising quality education – Mahama

General News on Friday, April 12, 2019

Source: Myjoyonline.com

2019-04-12

The former president, John Mahama, predicted a drop in the quality of education at the secondary and higher levels due to excessive investments in the Free High High School program.

He added that education in the country would suffer if the government continued to devote all its financial resources to Free SHS policy at the expense of basic education and higher education.

According to him, the government has neglected the public school system, making it unattractive to many Ghanaians.

Speaking at a series of lectures organized by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the University of Cape Coast on the state of education at the Ghana, late Thursday night, the former president said the government had to swallow its pride, stop gagging teachers and engage stakeholders to tweak its education policies.

He told a large audience of lecturers and students in the FELT 900 auditorium that policies poorly planned by the administration led by Nana Akufo-Addo would destroy the achievements of his administration.

Current events on the education front should be of concern to all Ghanaians.

"If you spend all your money in secondary education and less in higher education and basic education, your education system is defective," he said.

The NDC presidential candidate said it was strange that the government is budgeting 2 billion GHS on Free SHS policy during this academic year, while other sectors of education are completely neglected .

"If you have 2 billion GHS to spend on education, will you spend it on Free SHS?" He questioned.

He urged the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to accept suggestions from experienced educators and other stakeholders on education so as not to collapse the Ghanaian education system.

"When they [NPP] started this Free SHS, anyone who gave a contrary suggestion was criticized and called names.

"Even the people in their group have not been spared.Now see the mess they're creating in the education sector," he said.

Mahama is on a two-day visit to the central region where, according to the party, he is in contact with NDC leaders in some constituencies.

According to the party, the former president will also have contacts with key constituents of fishing communities, market women's badociations and opinion leaders.

Mr. Mahama is accompanied by the NDC National President, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, and other senior party officials.