Spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, Kwasi Kwarteng, has denied claims that the flagship program of government, the free Senior High School is under review.
According to him, despite the fact that there may be conversation surrounding a possible review, when it comes to the policy decision, it is the prerogative of President Akufo-Addo and the minister for education, Dr Yaw Adutuwm to exact. He indicated that when such conversations come up within the appropriate quarters, the ministry will have discussions on the way forward.
“From the side of the ministry of education and minister for education, there hasn’t been any discussion as such. We have not had that conversation so far as a review is concerned. So far as we are concerned, the free SHS beyond its challenges is still something government is funding and the program is still there and we are still working…
“For the avoidance of doubt and for the purposes [of] clarity, the ministry of education, which is the policy implementer, has not had such discussion when it comes to the review… For now, the free SHS is not under any review, especially within the context of the review that it was placed where we are saying parents are going to pay this amount or that amount.”
Kwasi Kwarteng
Resolving challenges of free SHS
Mr Kwarteng further denied claims that there is no money to run government’s free SHS policy. He questioned why government is still running the program if it’s got to do with it being cash strapped. He concerted that although there may be challenges, it predates the policy as there were challenges in the country’s education system especially at the SHS level.
“That is why we are there as leaders, when there are challenges, we solve it and that is the beauty of leadership. I am not sure it is an issue of the state or the country not having money. Of course, if you want all of us to have that broader conversation about alternative funding or funding in general about the free SHS policy, that is something everybody will embrace… But so far as I am concerned, the briefing that I have from my minister and the position of the ministry is that the policy is not under review.”
Kwasi Kwarteng
The Spokesperson for the education ministry emphasized on government’s resolve to do everything in its power to address the challenges confronting the policy. He explained that the ministry will equally do everything in its means“just like the minister has been doing to make sure that we make the policy progressive, increase access, open access [and] make sure there’s quality so that the socio-economic transformation” that Ghanaians desire to see will be attained.
“When there are challenges, we fix it [and] when those challenges require that we consult Ghanaians, we have to do that. But of course, when it comes to policy decisions, largely, it comes from the executive…”
Kwasi Kwarteng
READ ALSO: My loyalty got me beaten, but I will soon speak – Shatta Wale’s PA
