Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, Member of Parliament for Builsa South Constituency and the Deputy Ranking Member on the Education Committee, has sharply criticized what he terms the “inflated” Free Senior High School (FSHS) enrollment figures presented by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
As the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Manifesto Spokesperson on Education, Dr. Apaak emphasized that under former President John Dramani Mahama, the NDC will neither misrepresent FSHS data nor subject students to poor-quality food, as he claims has been the case under the NPP administration.
In his statement, Dr. Apaak challenged the accuracy of the NPP’s reported enrollment figures. He referenced findings from Fact-Check Ghana, which reveal discrepancies in the figures cited by Vice President Bawumia and President Akufo-Addo.
“How could beneficiaries of the FSHS programme from 2017-2024 be over 5 million when the total number of students who wrote the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) during this period is less than 5 million?”
Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, MP and the Deputy Ranking Member on the Education Committee
Fact-Check Ghana’s analysis indicates that actual FSHS enrollment from 2017-2024 stands at 3.1 million students (3,135,754) — far below the NPP’s claims. Dr. Apaak urged Ghanaians to treat the NPP’s statements with skepticism and to scrutinize their record on education policy.
While acknowledging the FSHS policy as a good initiative, Dr. Apaak criticized the NPP’s implementation of the program, highlighting a series of systemic issues that have undermined its success.
“The haphazard implementation of the FSHS policy by the NPP government, has led to deep-seated problems that threaten the entire education sector.”
Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, MP and the Deputy Ranking Member on the Education Committee
These challenges, Dr. Apaak argued, have tarnished the FSHS policy’s promise of equitable and quality education.
John Dramani Mahama’s Vision for Education
Dr. Apaak emphasized that under John Dramani Mahama’s leadership, the NDC is committed to not only sustaining the FSHS policy but also addressing its deficiencies through pragmatic interventions.
“The next John Dramani Mahama NDC Government will abolish the double-track system to restore a stable academic calendar.
“[The party] will also provide a dedicated and sustainable funding source for quality secondary education by ring-fencing a percentage of our oil proceeds.”
Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, MP and the Deputy Ranking Member on the Education Committee
Dr. Apaak again emphasized that the next NDC Government will embark on an emergency infrastructure drive to complete abandoned E-blocks and expand infrastructure in existing SHSs and TVET institutions, as well as decentralise the procurement of food and other basic supplies, ensure timely food supply, and improve the quantity and quality of food for students.
“The next NDC government will integrate the operations of the Free SHS Secretariat into the Ghana Education Service (GES) to efficiently implement the policy.
“Reform secondary education curricula to integrate STEM, agriculture, vocational skills, digital literacy, civic education, design thinking, and life skills into secondary educational outcomes.”
Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, MP and the Deputy Ranking Member on the Education Committee
He further noted that the NDC government will, “Introduce specialized Artificial Intelligence labs in selected secondary schools across the sixteen regions, and will continue our policy of provision of free laptops/tablets for SHS students.”
Dr. Apaak revealed plans for a National Consultative Conference on Education within the first 120 days of an NDC government to build consensus on necessary reforms.
Additionally, the NDC intends to introduce social support measures, including the distribution of free sanitary pads to female students in primary and secondary schools, further reducing barriers to education.
Dr. Apaak underscored that John Mahama’s administration had initiated the FSHS program in 2015 on a progressive basis, countering claims by the NPP that Mahama was opposed to the policy. “How can John Dramani Mahama cannibalize what he started?” he asked.
The NDC remains committed to delivering a more inclusive, efficient, and transparent system, ensuring that Ghanaian students receive quality education without the logistical and ethical pitfalls that have marred the NPP’s implementation.
Dr. Clement Apaak’s critique of the NPP’s handling of the FSHS program and his detailed outline of the NDC’s vision for secondary education under John Dramani Mahama highlight a stark contrast in approaches.
While acknowledging the challenges inherent in implementing such an ambitious policy, the NDC has pledged to address these gaps through sustainable funding, infrastructure expansion, and stakeholder collaboration.
With education remaining a pivotal issue for voters, the debate over FSHS will likely play a significant role in shaping the outcome of the 2024 elections.
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