Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the NPP’s flagbearer, has highlighted the remarkable achievements of the free Senior High School (SHS) policy implemented by the incumbent NPP government, emphasizing its profound impact on the nation’s development.
Accordingly, Dr. Bawumia urged Ghanaians to ignore the policy’s detractors, dismissing them as short-sighted naysayers who fail to grasp the intricacies of national progress and the long-term benefits of the free SHS policy.
“Our records in education are very massive. For instance, the free SHS policy has borne good fruits for the country notwithstanding the naysayers’ bad beliefs and assertions. An enrolment record of 1.4 million has been recorded under our government, a figure that is greater than any other government in the history of this country. And we will do more if I become the president,” Dr. Bawumia intimated.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
Furthermore, Dr. Bawumia elaborated on the transformative effects of the free SHS policy, highlighting its remarkable success in substantially boosting senior high school enrollment nationwide, with a notable surge in girls’ participation, thereby bridging the gender gap in education.
“Before Free Senior High School, for every 100 boys we had 68 girls, but today for every 100 boys we have 106 girls, so the girls have now exceeded the boys in Senior High School, and that is good for the country because they say if you educate a woman you educate a whole nation”.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
He observed that the Free SHS policy has led to a significant decline in the availability of maid work in urban areas, remarking that many young girls who would have otherwise been engaged in domestic work are now pursuing education instead, a testament to the policy’s impact in empowering girls and shifting societal norms.
Moreover, he spotlighted the policy’s remarkable success in the five northern regions, where a significant surge in student enrollment and a marked improvement in academic achievement have been observed, underscoring the policy’s positive impact on education in these areas.
As such, Dr. Bawumia explained that this progress is a key aspect of a comprehensive strategy to expand and equalize access to quality education nationwide, with a particular focus on bridging the gap in historically disadvantaged areas.
GH₵ 6 Billion Boost for Technical Education
Moreover, Dr. Bawumia revealed a significant boost to technical and vocational education, announcing a massive GHC 6 billion investment aimed at expanding enrollment and enhancing infrastructure in technical and vocational institutions, thereby equipping students with practical skills for the workforce.
“Our government has invested GHC 6 billion in Technical and Vocational institution enrollment with technological advancement in those institutions”.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
He noted that this investment aims to equip students with practical skills and technological expertise, aligning education with the demands of the modern job market.
He emphasized that this investment is designed to empower students with cutting-edge technical skills and industry-relevant knowledge, ensuring that education is precisely aligned with the dynamic needs of the 21st-century workforce, and preparing graduates to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven economy.
According to the Vice President, a remarkable 400,000 additional students have enrolled in Senior High Schools since the implementation of the free SHS policy, representing a significant expansion of access to secondary education in Ghana.
Dr. Bawumia emphasized that the government’s significant investment in the education sector is a strategic decision to cultivate a vast pool of skilled human capital, recognizing that Africa is home to the world’s fastest-growing youth population, and harnessing their potential is crucial for shaping the continent’s future prosperity.
As such, he emphasized that if President Akufo-Addo had succumbed to the criticisms and doubts surrounding the initiative, countless young individuals would have been denied the opportunity to access secondary education, thereby hindering their future prospects and potential contributions to society.
