I am committed to a better free SHS – Mahama to Bawumia

General News of Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Source: adomonline.com

2019-04-24

Former President John Mahama refuted what he described as a propaganda of the vice president, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, stating that he had never opposed Free's policy SHS.

He said that for someone who was implementing Progressively Free SHS for more than 350,000 students, it can not be said that he is against free SHS.

Mr. Mahama challenged Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to provide him with evidence showing that he was still against free SHS.

According to him, like all well-meaning Ghanaians, he believes that "the free SHS needs to be improved instead of the ad-hoc implementation we are witnessing under the Akufo-Addo administration" .

Below the statement

John Mahama remains committed to a better Free SHS program

We have noted another propaganda by Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia that HE John Dramani Mahama, the flag bearer and leader of the NDC, is against free education in high school.

It's wrong. Dr. Bawumia knows very well, in his heart, that he is not telling the truth and, as such, he is distorting the views of the former president.

Mr. Mahama has never been against free SHS and he never said anywhere that free SHS was a bad policy. Admittedly, it can not be said that the president who has implemented Progressively Free SHS for more than 350,000 students is against free SHS. We challenge Dr. Bawumia to provide evidence showing that the former president has never declared against free SHS.

Mr. Mahama, like all well-meaning Ghanaians, believes that free SHS should be improved instead of the ad-hoc implementation we are witnessing under the Akufo administration. Addo.

For example, the "dual track system" currently in place that keeps some students at home while others study at school remains a major concern for students, parents and many Ghanaians looking to the future. young people from Ghana.

In addition, the fate of SHS students at the end of their studies remains a major concern for many Ghanaians, including students, parents, lecturers, vice-chancellors. Even President Akufo-Addo himself admitted the "challenges" and only asked Ghanaians to look beyond the "challenges" because each program has "challenges".

Beyond the chair, Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta was also right to talk about the challenges of the program. Will Mr. Bawumia suggest both President Akufo-Addo and Ken Ofori Atta to "fight against" the free SHS program?

Former President Mahama never said that he would abandon the free SHS program. He has always been convinced that the safest way to maintain the program requires:

§ Broader consultation of national stakeholders as wisdom does not lie in the minds of a few;

Immediate and urgent suppression of the dual track system;

§ structured, new and additional use of funds at all levels of education;

§ Fast completion of the last high schools of the community day that he initiated;

§ Integrated and coherent planning of education at all levels; and

§ Aggressive teacher motivation programs and infrastructure development, among others.

To this end, we wish to emphasize that the outcome of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in inclusive education does not suggest that we will ever oppose a policy of full inclusion in education. We initiated FCUBE, set up the

GETFund, in spite of the numerous badertions of our opponents, has notably established a policy of progressively free education. As a result, the GETFund has been the most effective influence on the expansion and progress of education in Ghana. Unfortunately, for the first time in our history, the future of the GETFund has been guaranteed due to misuse and abuse by the current government.

In addition, the fact that John Mahama has added more to the high school infrastructure park than any other government, with the exception of Osagyefo, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, does not have the same effect. is not disputed. He provided all these infrastructure and several important educational deliverables without mortgaging the GETFund as the government did.

Therefore, we wish to inform Dr. Bawumia that to subject free SHS to emotionally charged discussions and feelings will be tantamount to bigotry. Therefore, he must remain courteous, wise, circumspect and sensitive, as he should be in his new role as Vice President.

As leaders, it is important not to fear that the emotionally charged pressure will be virulent without just cause, and even if the Vice President decides to reduce Ghana's political discourse to such invective bigotry, let at least try to be truthful.

His Excellency John Dramani Mahama remains committed to the release of SHS. It will make it better and ensure the future of Ghana's youth.

SIGN

Joyce Bawah Mogtari

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April 23, 2019