Need for Ghanaians to support implementation of the Free SHS Policy
At the ongoing round table organized by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development UNCTAD in Geneva, Switzerland, Ghana has been highly praised for rolling out of the free Senior High School education Policy. It is indeed a matter for all Ghanaians to be proud of and equally be responsible for its ultimate success. African Union Commission made the commendation, which was hailed by all present. The Commission said Ghana's introduction of a free senior high school programme is a true indication and a sure way of ensuring the growth of the country and Africa as a whole. As if by design or coincidence, this major achievement by Ghana is in tune with the theme of the meeting, which is “Accelerating Progress in Building Productive Capacities in Least Developing Countries and Other Vulnerable Developing Economies.” Ambassador Thomas Kwesi Quartey, Deputy Chairperson, African Union Commission, who gave the commendation on behalf of the AU noted with delight that the beginning of Free SHS in Ghana would give greater impetus to the AU’s agenda of having every African child in school by the end of the decade.
In many respects, Ghana has been seen as a trailblazer for the rest of the African continent. This time too Ghana is joining countries like Rwanda, Uganda, and Namibia that already provide free education at the Secondary level to lead the way to bring to fruition the dream of the AU to put every African child in school by the year 2020. With the level of poverty on the continent, there is no way such a laudable vision of the AU could have been achieved without the intervention of governments.
Ghana’s bold decision is therefore is a good omen for the rest of the continent. Most countries around the globe that are a step away from Africa and Ghana for that matter made education, their paramount priority. The free compulsory secondary school programme that Ghana has embarked upon is really an idea whose time has come. For sure, the policy is a sure way of ensuring the growth of the country and Africa as a whole. This is because Africa and Ghana for that matter do not only have the largest number of young people but also are the poorest in the world despite their huge natural and human resources.
At the moment, Ghana ranks 20th within the 52 African countries by way of the literacy rating with 57.9 percent. It is hoped that this policy by government could improve the situation to beat Burkina Faso which ranks first with 21.8 percent. In the words of Ambassador Quartey, “We would like to have a literate and a numerate Africa. We want an Africa where illiteracy is a thing of the past. With a literate and numerate Africa, the continent would be ready now to imbibe technology, apply science and technology, and find solutions.”
By Simple calculation, about 400, 000 students who have gained free access into senior high schools this year, were the same children whose mothers benefited from free maternal care under the Kufour administration some 15 to 16 years ago. The lesson is that the parent must ensure that the money that are supposed to be spent on these children would not go waste but rather rechanneled them into viable ventures to create wealth and ensure the furtherance of their wards education up to the university level to help the government build up the needed human resources for national development.
All of us who share in this pride must also share the accompanying responsibility and exhibit high sense of support and optimism of this important policy as it will benefit all Ghanaians in particular and Africa in general.
BY NANA SIFA TWUM, MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT – LONDON- UK.
In many respects, Ghana has been seen as a trailblazer for the rest of the African continent. This time too Ghana is joining countries like Rwanda, Uganda, and Namibia that already provide free education at the Secondary level to lead the way to bring to fruition the dream of the AU to put every African child in school by the year 2020. With the level of poverty on the continent, there is no way such a laudable vision of the AU could have been achieved without the intervention of governments.
Ghana’s bold decision is therefore is a good omen for the rest of the continent. Most countries around the globe that are a step away from Africa and Ghana for that matter made education, their paramount priority. The free compulsory secondary school programme that Ghana has embarked upon is really an idea whose time has come. For sure, the policy is a sure way of ensuring the growth of the country and Africa as a whole. This is because Africa and Ghana for that matter do not only have the largest number of young people but also are the poorest in the world despite their huge natural and human resources.
At the moment, Ghana ranks 20th within the 52 African countries by way of the literacy rating with 57.9 percent. It is hoped that this policy by government could improve the situation to beat Burkina Faso which ranks first with 21.8 percent. In the words of Ambassador Quartey, “We would like to have a literate and a numerate Africa. We want an Africa where illiteracy is a thing of the past. With a literate and numerate Africa, the continent would be ready now to imbibe technology, apply science and technology, and find solutions.”
By Simple calculation, about 400, 000 students who have gained free access into senior high schools this year, were the same children whose mothers benefited from free maternal care under the Kufour administration some 15 to 16 years ago. The lesson is that the parent must ensure that the money that are supposed to be spent on these children would not go waste but rather rechanneled them into viable ventures to create wealth and ensure the furtherance of their wards education up to the university level to help the government build up the needed human resources for national development.
All of us who share in this pride must also share the accompanying responsibility and exhibit high sense of support and optimism of this important policy as it will benefit all Ghanaians in particular and Africa in general.
BY NANA SIFA TWUM, MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT – LONDON- UK.
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