Conflicting Statements on Free SHS Bill: Government Faces Scrutiny Over Proposed Education Reforms-Dr. Clement Apaak
The front-page story in the July 1st, 2024 Daily Graphic attributed to the Minister for Education, titled “Free SHS Bill Goes to Cabinet: Seeks Cancellation of BECE for SHS Admission – SHS to be 6 Years,” raises significant concerns about the transparency and consistency of government announcements regarding the Free SHS (FSHS) program.
According to Hon. Yaw Adutwum, the Minister for Education, the proposed FSHS Bill has not yet been submitted to Cabinet, directly contradicting statements made by Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markins on June 11th and 27th, 2024. The Majority Leader had indicated that the bill had received Cabinet approval and was progressing to Parliament. If Minister Adutwum’s statement is accurate, it suggests a deliberate misinformation of the public by the Majority Leader [see graphic.com.gh/news/general-n…].
Furthermore, an analysis of the Daily Graphic report indicates that the intent of the proposed bill may not solely be to uphold the current structure of the FSHS program, as suggested by the Majority Leader. Instead, it appears to aim at reviewing and restructuring aspects of the pre-tertiary educational system. The proposal to eliminate the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and integrate Junior High School (JHS) and Senior High School (SHS) into a unified 6-year secondary education system represents a substantial reform requiring national stakeholder dialogue. Regrettably, there has been no indication of consultations with key educational stakeholders thus far.
Given these discrepancies between the statements of the Majority Leader and the Minister for Education, it is imperative that the proposed bill be made public for thorough scrutiny and analysis before any further discussion. Our party and Caucus maintain that any legislative efforts regarding the FSHS policy should address implementation challenges and ensure its sustainability.
It is important to clarify our stance: John Dramani Mahama and the NDC support the FSHS policy, which was initiated in 2015. However, our criticism has focused on persistent implementation challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, furniture, food quality, the double-track system, and disruptions to the academic calendar. We will continue to highlight these issues with the hope of resolving them.
Those who misrepresent our position on FSHS should be aware that Ghanaians are aware of the facts. We reject the unfounded accusation that John Dramani Mahama and the NDC oppose FSHS.
