NDC will enhance free SHS, not cancel it — Prof. Opoku-Agyemang

The running mate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Prof.Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, says the next NDC government will improve the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme.

She says her party has no plan to cancel Free SHS but would rather work hard to improve it by addressing the challenges facing students, teachers and schools.

Addressing a rally in Sekondi as part of her three-day campaign tour of the Western Region, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, who previously served as the Minister of Education in the last NDC government, said her party will not cancel a programme that it invested substantial resources to build Community Day Schools for and start as Progressively Free SHS.

She therefore urged Ghanaians to ignore the anti-NDC propaganda about an imminent cancellation of the programme.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemangsaid the next NDC government will improve the implementation of Free SHS by investing in classroom and boarding infrastructure to remove the double track system, provide teaching and learning materials for schools and ensure adequate supply of food for students.

"Are they saying we should not address the current education calendar that has brought double track to our SHS and affecting quality teaching?Are they saying we should not let our children have better food? Are they saying we should not review the policy to provide state of the art teaching and learning materials, equipment and tools in our schools?We will fix the challenges of the Free SHS policy to make it better", she added.

Prof Opoku-Agyemang said the NDC has a comprehensive programme to improve the implementation of Free SHS and raise the quality of secondary education in the country.

She therefore urged the electorates to vote for Mr John Dramani Mahama to enable him fulfill his promise of improving education at al levels and provide jobs for the youth through the implementation of the 24-Hour Economy policy.