- Free SHS policy is non-negotiable, says Majority Leader.
- Government to enact law to bind policy on future administrations.
- NDC and Minority support bill, but demand dedicated funding.
- Opposition criticizes government's handling of education debts.
Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, despite opposition from the Minority caucus. Speaking on Onua FM’s Yen Nsempa program on Wednesday, July 3, Afenyo-Markin emphasized that the policy is non-negotiable and will be pushed through at all costs.
The Effutu MP criticized the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its parliamentarians for opposing the Free SHS bill without even reviewing it. He compared this opposition to their initial resistance to the Free SHS policy and other major social interventions.
Afenyo-Markin stated that the ranking member on the education committee, Nortsue-Kotoe, had announced that the NDC would not support the bill, which he believed was a premature decision. He emphasized that the government is determined to enact the law to bind all stakeholders to the Free SHS policy.
The Majority Leader dismissed fears of opposition, stating that the government is focused on building a new national psyche that recognizes Free SHS as a non-negotiable policy. He emphasized that the government will push the bill through despite the NDC’s opposition.
If passed into law, the bill would ensure that the Free SHS policy remains binding on successive governments, preventing any future administration from discontinuing it. This move is seen as a significant step towards cementing the policy’s place in Ghana’s education system.
Despite initial resistance, the NDC and Minority have now declared their support for the bill. They have also announced their intention to push for a dedicated funding source for the Free SHS policy in the forthcoming proposed legislation by the government.
However, the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Education Committee and Member of Parliament for Akatsi North Constituency, Nortsue-Kotoe, has dismissed claims by the NPP government regarding its concern for the country’s education. He pointed out that the current government has not prioritized education as it claims.
Nortsue-Kotoe highlighted significant debts owed to suppliers of key educational logistics, including school uniforms, textbooks, and furniture. He also revealed that the government still owes money to suppliers of food items for two years.
The opposition’s criticism of the government’s handling of education has sparked a heated debate in the country. While the government maintains that it is committed to the Free SHS policy, the opposition argues that the government’s actions do not match its rhetoric.
The Free SHS policy remains a contentious issue in Ghana’s political landscape. While the government is determined to push the policy through, the opposition is equally determined to hold the government accountable for its actions. The outcome of this debate will have significant implications for the country’s education system and the future of the Free SHS policy.
