Akufo-Addo Gov’t clears GH¢30.1 million Free SHS debt under Mahama Gov’t
The Minister of Education, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh says the Akufo-Addo led government has cleared at least GH¢30.1 million debt of the progressively Free SHS policy introduced by the John Mahama’s NDC government.
The Education Minister speaking on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday said the Mahama administration started the Free SHS initiative with only day students but that debt has since been paid by the ruling NPP government.
According to the Manhyia South MP, the Mahama administration paid nothing at all in respect of the 120,000 boarding students to be catered for under old version of the Free SHS called “the high-sounding Progressively Free programme in the 2016/ 2017 academic year”.
Speaking to Parliament, NAPO said, “Mr Speaker, notwithstanding the initial hiccups, the Free SHS programme is here to stay and we are confident that the generality of Ghanaians are fully behind it.” he said as quoted by the Ghana News Agency.
He added that the focus on education and acquisition of essential 21st-century skills for the new millennium learners is now pervasive than it was in the past, across the world.
Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh disclosed that over 1.2 million students have benefited from the Free SHS programme since its implementation by the Akufo-Addo government in September 2017.
He noted the Free SHS programme has expanded access to secondary education in the country with an extra 400,000 students to enrol in Senior High School.
The Member of Parliament for Manyia South Constituency speaking further said despite the few challenges in the implementation of the programme it has been highly embraced by Ghanaians with endless testimonies.
Source: Georgeweb.org
