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Don’t Argue Over Akuff-Addo’s Free SHS

By Opayin Okyere -Fianko
Opinion Dont Argue Over Akuff-Addos Free SHS
MAR 1, 2017 LISTEN

Barring any unforeseen circumstances the free SHS system for education proposed as early as 2011 by the current president of Ghana when he was an opposition leader of the NPP will see its implementation come September, 2017.

When that much awaiting day comes 2017 BECE levers will only take their examination and computer placement slips to secondary schools of their choices without bothering their parents for ghc500 or 700 as school fees which without might lead some of them to stay home or defer admissions to following years. Per the policy i suspect that headmasters would no more be suspended for over charging fees or unapproved fees. What a relief to parents, children and headmasters from financial and moral stress!

No doubt that the policy on its mere mentioned in 2011 received support and continue to receives same from majority of Ghanaian now that it’s about to be implemented . Even those opposing it do so only on how the source of funding would be sustained. I am therefore not wholly surprise about the current hullabaloo about the policy and its source of funding because of the politicization of issues in the country.

Now the NDC though have soften their stands on the impossibility of the policy then and now questions the funding stating clearly that they do not want government to use heritage fund for the implementation of the policy.

That is fine, however, i wish to state that educations is a human right that must be enjoyed by all just like all right to vote therefore state parties take all steps such as free SHS for her people to enjoy same regardless of their financial status.

It therefore suffices to say that the opposition NDC who believe access to education should be progressive had lost the argument to the government who believed free SHS should be now. Again my candid opinion is that the debate should not be even given space since the subject matter was a human right issue people have by virtue of being human.

Anyway, I am particularly happy that at least since 2011 Ghanaians have reinforced their acknowledgement of education as an important agent of development in our lives by pushing governments to ensure it was available to all. The fact that political parties have seen the need not to toy with our human right to education means that we are serious at ensuring this country develop as expected.

The point of departure however is whether to continue to pursue education from the need based or the right based approach. My conviction is that since Ghana is part of United Nations automatically we have agreed that education is human rights as enshrined in article 26 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights since 1948.

My worry has to do with the way experts, pundits’, civil society organization and political parties still ague on the free SHS policy as if it is a subject that could be compromised or suspended. How can anyone talk about free SHS which comes about as an abolition of school fees to break barriers on education without presenting it as a human right?

I put forward that education is one of the 30 fundamental human rights recognized by UNUDHR(1948) article 26 ICESR(1966) articles 13 and 14, UNCRC(1989) article 28, Constitution of the Republic of Ghana(1992) article 25 and 38 which Ghana as member of the 193 UN member countries are expected to promote ,protect and fulfill. In fact all human rights documents emphasis that at basic education must be free and compulsory with obligation to ensure SHS is accessible to all and equal opportunity for people to enter tertiary education.

The United Nations Convention on the Right of the Child Article 28 makes it clear in the following words: 1. States parties recognize the right of the child to education and with a view to achieving this right progressively and on the basis of equal opportunity, they shall, in particular: (a) make primary education compulsory and available free to all; (b) encourage the development of different forms of secondary education, including general and vocational education, make them available and accessible to every child, and take appropriate measures such as the introduction of free education and offering financial assistance in case of need; (c) make higher education accessible to all on the basis of capacity by every appropriate means; (d) make educational and vocational information and guidance available and accessible to all children; (e) take measures to encourage regular attendance at schools and the reduction of drop-out rates.

i suspect that either someone is being economical with the truth or ignorant with the concept of human rights in relations to the right to education otherwise all the facts available on the free SHS shouldn’t lead the experts and pundits from both government and opposition to present the all-important free SHS without human rights underpinnings to Ghanaians.

Whichever way the case may be it must be noted that need based approach to education have been dropped since 1990 therefore Ghana can’t argue in favor of it.

Let the government remove all forms of barriers to secondary education such as school fees which we have found to be a major problem for our children from poor homes so all children whether from rich or poor backgrounds will have access to education.

To me the argument that if education at secondary level was made free the quality will be compromise is completely false. My answer to that is no because whether quality or inferior, all children as a matter of human right must have access to education therefore the duty of the government to ensure quality of education should not be used to justify delay, denial or elimination of access to education which abolition of school fees and for that matter introduction of free SHS is about to correct.

The fact that inability to pay school fees had affected a lot more Ghanaians to the point of being school drop out after JHS and not because they did not pass their exams makes it imperative for all hands to be on deck to support the idea of free SHS.

What the free SHS means therefore is that whether poor or rich one will gain access to school so as to enjoy fundamental human right to education. Let us remind ourselves that abolition of school fees is a sure way of ensuring right to education.

Well-done President Akufo-Addo for ensuring fundamental human rights to education is being enjoyed by all at least for our children.

His Excellency, my piece of advice for you is that, immediately establish education police task force to make sure basic school children who are seen on our streets petty trading and all kinds of labour are arrested and enrolled in nearest schools and their parents fined for violating their children right to education despite free Compulsory Basic Education Police in force. I’m sure people will raise issues of legalities when that is done but i will show them where legalities could be used to promote and protect human rights to education of all especially children.

I therefore urge the government communicators to disseminate issues of education such as the free SHS with human rights concept devoid of need base. The opposition should also note that it’s not only that education is key to success that the state and parents, and are to educate their children but for the realization of Education as a fundamental human rights of all by virtue of being human. Simply put education is just like our right to vote and to live so why the debate on it.

Thank God a member of the opposing side former Minister for education Honorable Samuel Okudjeto has admitted the importance of the free SHS. Others from his points are saying it’s feasible but they don’t want it to be funded by heritage fund. I think that is another argument that shouldn’t stop the smooth implementation of the free SHS in any way.

However, this argument of funding could be moved further in other areas of economy but same cannot be sad about education because it is necessary to ensure all human rights we must enjoy .

Let us therefore finance Free SHS through consolidated fund; get fund, tax increases or external support in the interim if we do not think education is a heritage of our children which must be funded by the Heritage Fund.

However, his excellence Akufo –Addo must be commended for ensuring that right to educations as enshrined in all international documents as well as Ghana’s 1992 constitution article 25 and 38 is finally to be respected, fulfilled and promoted. Let’s all support such a worthy course no matter which coffers the funding will be taken from even if it requires that the opposition allowance be slashed!

Opayin Okyere -Fianko
Bolga Pito, Communty 2
Tema
Email: [email protected]

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