Performance Map: Target Class C Schools for Free SHS – Prof Quartey

General News on Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Source: Myjoyonline.com

2018-11-27

The head of the economic division of the Institute for Economic and Social Statistics Research of the University of Ghana suggested that the government should target fifth-year schools for free SHS programs.

Says on a dashboard, a Joy FM program designed to evaluate the performance of the government under the chairmanship of Nana Akufo-Addo, Professor Peter Quartey, said, "2nd grade schools do not have the figures needed to reduce the heavy burden the government to help support the initiative. "

He also explained that students in Level C schools came from poorer households and had parents who could not meet all their needs.

"The government can target beneficiaries of the Free SHS program or set up scholarship programs for children from disadvantaged backgrounds," said Quartey.

He continued: "Allow parents with students in first-year schools to pay to support their children because they are willing to pay.

He suggested that the government, in its quest Free SHS, should also allow parents to help fund the program because it can not handle the burden alone.

Professor Quartey stated that he did not expect the government to take over everything, but to "allow parents to help fund the program by allowing the Parents Teachers Association ( PTA) to meet some of the essential needs of the school by paying PTA dues fees. "

However, the Deputy Minister of Education stated that every student, regardless of socioeconomic status or level of proficiency, deserved to attend a Category A school.

"We will no longer create second-clbad citizens where the brightest are supported for leaving the weak behind," he said.

Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum explained that parents who wish to help can donate to schools.

Professor Quartey said he was concerned about the participation of foreign students in the program.

"Is there a Ghana Free SHS or a Free Ecowas SHS?", Questioned the professor, explaining that the number of students participating in the Free Initiative SHS was increasing due to the presence of foreign students in the system.

He stated that there is no system in place to verify the nationality of students, which has created a flexible system for anyone to register.