GOVERNMENT MUST OPEN DOORS FOR NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON FREE SHS -DR. MENSAH

The head of the Department, of Business and Social Sciences Education University of Cape Coast Dr. Eric Mensah has made a clarion call on the government to create the opportunity for stakeholders in education to have a national dialogue on the free SHS policy.
According to him, the move has become necessary due to the flat gate entry into the second most important education ladle in the country which has created low intellectual product after their education.
The free SHS policy aims to take out the element of cost as a barrier to education. Under this policy, every Ghanaian child who attains the passing mark, as agreed for the year by Ghana Education Service Council, will enjoy a three-year scholarship for secondary education.
The Free Senior High School (Free SHS) education policy in Ghana was a government initiative introduced in 2017 September by the Presidential administration of Nana Akufo-Addo.
The policy’s origination began as part of Nana Akufo Addo’s presidential campaign during Ghana’s 2016 election period and has become an essential part of Ghana’s educational system.
The policy’s core themes of access, equity and equality fulfil the United Nations modified Sustainable Development Goals, where member countries amalgamate those themes in their educational systems to certify adequate learning experiences for students.
Speaking in an exclusive interview on Kastle FM’s political show (ME MAN HO DO) hosted by Nana Kweku Arhin, Dr Mensah alluded to the fact, that although the policy in its entire nature was a good policy, the absence of proper streamline has made it lose its quality as many unqualified candidates have had the opportunity to enter various institutions due to its current nature.
He emphasized that, though the policy has created more access, other variables like equity and equality need to be attended to, to complement the full potential of the policy.
Lamenting on how full attainment of the quality of free SHS policy, he further noted that, there must be a benchmark or cutout point for entry so that good materials will be admitted into the various institutions.
Dr Eric Mensah’s call was on the back of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) also calling for an urgent national stakeholder dialogue to relook at the Free Senior High School (SHS) programme in relation to the country’s current economic situation.
The dialogue, the teachers’ umbrella body said, should be aimed at smoothening the rough edges of the programme, leading to a review for a seamless implementation which Dr Mensah said, the call has become necessary going forward.
Story By : Kwamena Essuman (Kastle Fm)