NPP implemented the FreeSHS before planning – Ben Doe
Ben Doe, a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Communications Team, has criticized the government’s execution of its flagship Free Senior High School (SHS) program.
He argues that the policy lacks proper targeting and has led to significant debt.
Ben Doe pointed out the absence of official data from bodies like the Ghana Statistical Service, which is needed to identify the impoverished areas that would benefit most from the Free SHS program.
Without this information, he believes the policy cannot be effectively implemented.
“The government has incurred significant debt due to Free SHS, and a review of the policy is necessary,” Ben Doe emphasized.
He advocates for a reassessment to ensure the program is sustainable and beneficial in the long term.
In response to these concerns, the government plans to present the Free Senior High School (SHS) Bill to Parliament.
This bill aims to regulate the policy and address sustainability issues, amidst fears of potential cancellation by future administrations and the various challenges the program currently faces.
Educational stakeholders, including EduWatch, have also weighed in.
They suggest that parents who choose boarding facilities for their children should be responsible for covering the associated costs.
Additionally, they recommend that the policy should focus on children from poor households, using data from the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) program for accurate targeting.
During an appearance on Ahotor FM‘s morning show ‘Adekyee Mu Nsem,’ Ben Doe remarked, “Free SHS was a popular policy, but because it is not well planned, the NPP government is not currently promoting it as much.”
His comments highlight the need for a more structured and data-driven approach to ensure that the Free SHS program achieves its intended goals without imposing a heavy financial burden on the country.
LISTEN TO BEN DOE IN THE AUDIO BELOW:
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites) / Ahotoronline.com
