Clement Apaak, MP for Builsa South, has challenged the logic of introducing the FSHS Bill, as announced by Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, given the Ministry of Education’s alleged plan to scrap BECE and extend SHS to 6 years, rendering the bill’s purpose unclear.
Clement Apaak pointed out a discrepancy in the government’s statements, as Education Minister Yaw Adutwum’s recent declaration that the FSHS Bill has not been sent to cabinet contradicts the Majority Leader’s earlier assertions on June 11th and 27th, 2024.
“The Majority Leader indicated to the media and on the floor of Parliament that the proposed bill had already received cabinet approval, and was in transition to Parliament. To put it bluntly, if we are to believe the Minister for Education, then we must logically conclude that the Majority Leader deliberately misinformed Ghanaians”.
Clement Apaak
Clement Apaak further observed that a careful examination of the Daily Graphic’s report on the Education Minister’s statement reveals that the intended purpose of the proposed bill is not to preserve the Free SHS Program in its current state, but rather to introduce significant changes.
He also pointed out that the bill’s purpose is not to guarantee the continuation of the Free SHS policy in its current form by future governments, as implied by the Majority Leader, but rather it seems to aim for a different approach.
Apaak observed that contrary to expectations, the proposed bill appears to be focused on overhauling and transforming Ghana’s pre-tertiary education system, rather than simply safeguarding the existing Free SHS program, as evident from the Education Minister’s report.
He emphasized that such a significant overhaul, which includes abolishing BECE and merging JHS and SHS into a 6-year secondary education system, warrants a thorough and inclusive national dialogue involving all relevant stakeholders.
He lamented that, regrettably, no stakeholder engagements or consultations have taken place regarding this significant reform, which is a concerning lack of inclusivity in the decision-making process.
He pointed out that, to the best of his knowledge, there is no evidence of feedback or contributions from crucial stakeholders in the education sector, such as teachers, educators, and experts, being considered.
Parliament Urged To Pause Debate On Free SHS Bill Amid Conflicting Statements
Moreover, Clement Apaak emphasized that due to the conflicting statements from the Majority Leader and the Education Minister regarding the proposed bill, Parliament must halt any further deliberations on the matter until the actual bill is presented and thoroughly reviewed, to ensure clarity and accuracy.
He reaffirmed that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party and caucus maintain their stance, welcoming any legislation or bill aimed at addressing the challenges and ensuring the sustainability of the Free SHS policy, but emphasizing the need for clarity and proper consultation.
“Let us restate, that John Dramani Mahama and the NDC believe that the FSHS policy is a good policy and do not hate it as some in the NPP falsely claim. How can we not like a policy we began implementing in 2015?”
“Our concern has been and remains the implementation challenges: inadequate academic and residential infrastructure; inadequate furniture; inadequate and poor quality food; erratic academic calendar; obnoxious double track system among others”.
Clement Apaak
Apaak declared that the NDC will persist in highlighting the flaws and challenges in the implementation of the Free SHS program, with the expectation that the government will address and rectify these issues to ensure the program’s success.
“Let those who continue peddling lies about our position on FSHS know, that Ghanaians know the truth”. – Clement Apaak
He emphasized that the public is aware that the claim suggesting John Dramani Mahama and the NDC are against the Free SHS program is a tired and discredited falsehood, and Ghanaians will not be deceived by it.
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