Dr. Clement Apaak, former President John Dramani Mahama’s education spokesperson, has listed more than 15 initiatives that would be implemented by a new National Democratic Congress (NDC) to assist continue the free senior high school (FSHS) program.
He emphasised some of the issues that the policy’s implementation has presented, which have had an impact on the quality of teaching and learning in our secondary schools.
He added that the policy’s inadequate implementation has resulted in deep-seated issues that undermine the entire educational system.
These challenges include the obnoxious double-track system; Spatial constraints and massive overcrowding; inadequate and irregular funding; Erratic academic calendar and insufficient contact hours; Erratic supply of non-perishable food items and irregular release of funds for perishable food items; Poor quantity and quality of food for students occasioned by the centralisation of food procurement, riddled with corruption and undue delays in food supply.
The rest are Growing indiscipline and higher levels of examination malpractices; deterioration of school facilities; inadequate furniture in classrooms, dormitories, dining halls, and offices; High extra cost to parents; A declining quality of education; and the harassment of dissenting teachers and school heads.
Dr. Apaak asked Ghanaians to trust Me. Mahama because he has what it takes to improve and sustain the policy.
“Ghanaians should trust John Dramani Mahama to improve and sustain FSHS for the good of Ghana. John Dramani Mahama’s commitment to improving and sustaining secondary education is not in doubt. This is further manifested in an initiative and a forum expected to impact positively on secondary education in Ghana in the first 120 days of the coming John Dramani Mahama Presidency. John Dramani Mahama will:
a) convene a national consultative conference on education to build consensus on needed improvements to the sector; and b) commence the distribution of free sanitary pads to female students in primary and secondary schools.
John Dramani Mahama has a proven track record in the area of education and can be trusted to deliver on these promises.”
He then outlined plans by former President John Dramani Mahama to address all these challenges.
John Dramani Mahama’s Plan To Improve and Sustain FSHS
Cognisant of the above challenges, and after engaging stakeholders, such as CHASS and NAGRAT on secondary education, the next John Dramani Mahama NDC Government will:
- Abolish the obnoxious double-track system to restore a stable academic calendar;
- Provide a dedicated and sustainable funding source for quality secondary education by ring-fencing a percentage of our oil proceeds;
- Embark on an emergency infrastructure drive to complete abandoned E-blocks and expand infrastructure in existing SHSs and TVET institutions;
- Decentralise the procurement of food and other basic supplies, ensure timely food supply, and improve the quantity and quality of food for students;
- Extend FSHS to cover students in private Senior High Schools;
- Integrate the operations of the Free SHS Secretariat into the Ghana Education Service (GES) to efficiently implement the policy;
- Reform secondary education curricula to integrate STEM, agriculture, vocational skills, digital literacy, civic education, design thinking, and life skills into secondary educational outcomes;
- Introduce specialized Artificial Intelligence labs in selected secondary schools across the sixteen regions;
- Continue our policy of provision of free laptops/tablets for SHS students;
- Forge partnerships for the efficient delivery of secondary education, including restoring the role of Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) and old student associations;
- Strengthen government partnerships with religious bodies in managing mission schools;
- Upgrade existing ICT laboratories and establish new ICT laboratories in Schools without same to promote digital literacy;
- Expand digital libraries to enhance access to global teaching and learning materials for both teachers and learners;
- Expand Science Resource Centres (SRC) across the regions to support STEM/TVET education;
- Review the Computerised School Selection & Placement System (CSSPS) to address corruption in school placement, and make it merit-based;
- Implement a policy to upgrade selected secondary schools across the sixteen regions into Grade A schools; and
- Conduct an infrastructural audit to identify gaps and invest in targeted infrastructure to enhance access and quality of education.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
