It’s unfortunate E-Blocks were abandoned for double track system – Prof Naana Jane
Speaking on Ahotor’s Adekyee Mu Nsem with Citizen Kofi Owusu on Thursday 9th February ’23. The running mate for NDC in the 2020 elections Professor Jane Naana Opoku – Agyemang lamented on challenges and emerging issues in Ghana’s Educational system.
The Former education Minsiter and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast express misgivings on abandoned E – blocks in the country. And queried why government decided to trek on a path, which have had a rather far reaching consequences in the educational history of the nation. Recently the select committee in parliament on education embarked on expedition to unearthed several E blocks which have been left to rot under the mercy of the weather amid huge investment which have gone waste and unaccounted respectively.
Professor Naana Jane Opoku – Agyemang said there are alot of issues confronting the sector under the Akufo Addo led government after being in the helm of affairs for six years.
“There are alot of challenges in the educational systems currently, we should think not only about the SHS student .
Government has given all attention to Senior high school students because they know what they achieve from it ” She added!
“When the Free SHS and Double track was introduced, the students , teachers and parents faced the challenges since PTA was also taken out of the system”
“The School is a small community which involves everyone, parents, teachers, stakeholders and the students as well.
Is up to government to take their responsibilities especially with the feeding program”
She also made it known that Ghana’s education was premised on grammar other than investing in Technical and vocational institution to equip the youths to be gainfully sustained.
On the Review of Free SHS Policy , Prof. Said ‘ there’s no organisation without review , so the policy needs to be reviewed .
“There are as many as 20,000 students who qualifies to further to SHS but because classrooms are not enough , We started a building project which is the E- BLOCKS Community day school to help those who couldn’t afford the Boarding school.
But the NPP Government couldn’t continue with the unfinished projects and introduced free SHS which is facing a lot of challenges now” She explained !
Government in recent times have received a barrage of criticisms due to challenges posed by the FreeSHS policy and what industry players say the lack consultation in the beginning of the entire process of the program has impacted negatively on teaching and learning.
The 2020 running mate to former President John Mahama stated that thought the NDC doesn’t oppose to the Policy, the Akufo Addo led administration should have given room for broad consultations to include the the views of stakeholders in the education sector. She said challenges associated with the Policy must be tackled in a holistic manner for forestore confidence and value for money.
The Catholic Bishops Conference and other civil society organisations have all condemned government in the past for taking unilateral decisions in policy implementation which is not in the interest of Parents and wards.
Story by Akuye Tetteh / Ahotoronline.com
