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13.09.2017 Education

Parents Happy With Free SHS Roll-Out

By GNA
Parents Happy With Free SHS Roll-Out
13.09.2017 LISTEN

Accra, Sept. 11, GNA - Parents and guardians whose children are the pioneers to experience the Free Senior High School (SHS) Policy by the New Patriotic Party Administration have expressed happiness about the programme.

When the GNA visited the Accra High School at 0830 hours, to monitor the progress of admission there, the parents welcomed the relief offered by the policy; while the registration process progressed smoothly, amidst some security presence.

Pastor Beulah Freeman, Pastor at the Lord of Host International Church, said she had been pleasantly saved from the estimated thousands of cedis she would have paid regarding her wards' education and registration.

'I came prepared, since this has been the norm over the years; but nothing was taken, and I'm grateful,' she said.

Pastor Freeman, therefore, advised the public to embrace the policy wholeheartedly, support it and not make it seem like a political game.

'When you see a man who is focused to help eradicate poverty, and make everything equal for everyone no matter the gender, age, colour, family or education, you have to support him by making his aspirations realised,' she advised.

She urged Ghanaians to pray for the President and his ministers for wisdom that would help them position the country in the right direction.

Mr Prince Nana Boateng, a Public Relations Officer of the Chief of Gomoa Nyayano, and a parent said: 'I'm more than happy about this policy because it has eased the pressure on parents; in fact, this is a dream come true because last year I paid about GH¢ 1, 200 for my

ward.
'This year I'm not paying anything; it is a divine intervention! Otherwise, more than 50 per cent of the children in poor communities would not have made it to secondary school though they have passed.

'We thank the President for all that we experiencing now.'

Mr Haruna Abdallah, a businessman, said he supported the initiative by Government because it was going to help parents.

'I don't know whether I would be asked to pay something later, but as I speak to you I went through the process without paying anything,' he said.

For his part, Mr Obed Annang, a banker with the HFC Bank, who was there to register his sister, confirmed to the GNA that he did not pay anything throughout the registration process and lauded authorities of the School for the systematic way of carrying out the process.

Other beneficiaries who spoke to the GNA, also expressed excitement about the programme that would make them have quality access to education as any regular child ought to have.

'I'm very happy about this because is absolutely free, this also gives us, the children, access to quality SHS education and we are going to make our parents proud as well as the Government for the opportunity given us,' Master Kingney Isaac Boateng, a beneficiary

told the GNA.
Meanwhile, the Headmistress of the School, said she was reserving her comments for now.

The Government promised to implement the policy at the start of the 2017/18 Academic Year, amidst the expression of skepticism by some critics.

The Policy would be officially launched on Tuesday, September 12, at the West Africa Senior High School (WASS).

At the 60th Anniversary of the Okuapeman SHS at Akropong-Akuapem, President Akufo-Addo explained that the Policy was aimed at building an educated populace for speedy national development and progress.

'By Free SHS, we mean that in addition to tuition, which is already free, there will be no admission fees, no library fees, no science centre fees, no computer laboratory fees, no examination fees, and no utility fees,' he stated.

'Additionally, there will be free textbooks, free boarding and free meals and day students will get a meal at school for free.'

'Free SHS will also cover agricultural, vocational and technical institutions at the high school level,' the President explained.

An estimated 1.6 million eligible students between the ages of 15 and 17 years across the country, are expected to benefit from the Policy.

GNA
By Elsie Appiah-Osei, GNA

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