The Free SHS Policy Implementation -- NUGS Identifies Some Few Challenges

The Akufo Addo led NPP government, in demonstrating its value for secondary education, declared a policy of FREE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL (SHS) education in the country which commenced in September this year. Barely three months since His Excellency Nana Akuffo-Addo, the President of Ghana officially launched the policy, divergent views have been expressed by some Ghanaians of which the National Union Of Ghana Students, NUGS is of no exception. Not loosing sight of the fact that the Motto of NUGS says "Education, A Right Not a Privilege"

Predominant of all the reactions since the commencement of the Free SHS Policy is the acknowledgement that the Free SHS policy is a laudable and unprecedented initiative which the government has boldly implementation regardless of the financial constraint battling the economy.

In this light, the bold step taken by His Excellency to scale up implementation of the Free SHS policy is highly commendable. Indeed, no one can deny the access expansion advantages associated with the removal of all fees and other related costs in the provision of senior high school education in Ghana.

Undoubtedly our checks with our regional and institutional blocs indicates that that Parents would be relieved the burden of paying school fees and no child would be sacked from school for non-payment of fees. But the questions that remain unanswered and which have been our focus as the ultimate mouthpiece of all students of Ghana are;

‘How do we ensure that quality is not compromised in the wholesale implementation of the Free SHS policy?‘how do we balance access and quality to make the Free SHS policy more meaningful to the Ghanaian child? How do we sensitize stakeholders, particularly parents against reneging on their fundamental shared responsibilities? These questions have been the parameters within which NUGS wishes to lay bear our contributions to the debate since the policy was rolled out.

We are calling on the Ministry of Education to prioritize strategies for mitigating these challenges in the Free SHS implementation process. Specifically, we suggest that the Ministry should consider the following factors before next year admission is done.

• Sensitizing parents and other stakeholders to enable them to understand the implications of the Free SHS policy for their shared responsibilities to schools.

• Initiate a process of revamping and equipping the science laboratories, Dinning halls of less endowed senior high schools.

•Delays in the supply of foodstuffs from the buffer stock to the various must be looked at.

• putting in place strategies to ensure that remittances to schools are not unnecessarily delayed.

• Expanding of Dormitory facilities to meet the enrollment demands of less endowed Schools.

As a major stakeholder in the education dispensation, We humbly appeal to traditional authorities, clergy, Parents, Teachers, Civil society organisations and Non Governmental Organisations to support the Ministry of Education to strengthen the implementation of the Free SHS policy to ensure that quality is not compromised. stakeholders, particularly parents, must not renege on their shared commitment to supporting teaching and learning in secondary schools.

NUGS believes that in the interest of our dear nation and the fact that quality education cannot and should not be compromised in any way if we desire the best from the Free SHS policy,

The Ministry of Education should plan the implementation of the policy very well by prioritising quality issues to make the good intentions behind His Excellency President Nana Akuffo-Addo’s declaration of the Free SHS policy more meaningful to Ghanaians

In conclusion, We wish to appeal to the Minister of Education to operate all inclusive leadership style on policies which have direct bearing on students of Ghana; We humbly urge him embrace divergent ideas and comments made by Ghanaians especially NUGS and its constituents who are the direct beneficiaries of policies under his Ministry.

.........Signed
Elisha Oheneba Essumang
*NUGS PRESIDENT elect*
0244199288
.........Issued by
Dominic Kojo Blay
*Press and Information Secretary elect*
0275770400