The Educate Africa Institute (EAI), a prominent education advocacy group in the country has voiced strong concerns about the timing and prioritization of the introduction of the Free Senior High School Bill by the ruling government.
The education advocacy group, in a statement issued by its Executive Director and Founder, William Boadi strongly argued that while the proposal is well-intentioned, it diverts attention from pressing issues that urgently need to be addressed to improve the quality of education in the country.
“The government is set to present the Free Senior High School (SHS) Policy Bill to Parliament, a move aimed at making secondary education accessible to all. However, the Educate Africa Institute (EAI) argues that this policy, while well-intentioned, is not necessary at this time”.
William Boadi, Executive Director of Educate Africa Institute (EAI)
Critical Issues Facing the Education Sector
According to a statement issued by William Boadi, Executive Director of EAI, the country’s education sector is grappling with several severe challenges that undermine student learning and overall educational outcomes.
Among the most critical issues, Mr Boadi bemoaned the inadequate infrastructure, adding that several schools across the country lack basic facilities such as classrooms, libraries, and laboratories.
He emphasized that the absence of these essential amenities not only hampers student learning but also compromises their safety and well-being.
Again, the renowned educationists decried the insufficient teaching materials in the country’s education sector, arguing that there is a widespread shortage of textbooks, teaching aids, and other necessary learning resources.
Here, Mr Boadi also noted that in many cases, students are forced to share outdated materials, which hinders their ability to engage effectively with the curriculum.
Furthermore, the Executive Director of the Educate Africa Institute lamented the shortage of qualified teachers in most rural communities in the country, asserting that the absence of qualified teachers has resulted in larger class sizes and diminished quality of instruction, severely impacting students’ educational experiences.
Call for Immediate Action
The Educate Africa Institute in a passionate call to action, urged the government to prioritize significant investments in the education sector to address these foundational issues.
Among several recommendations, the education advocacy group called on the government to build and maintain proper school facilities to ensure a conducive learning environment.
The Institute further urged the government to provide sufficient learning materials to ensure every student has access to up-to-date textbooks and teaching aids and in addition provide better training, support, and incentives to attract and retain skilled teachers, particularly in underserved areas.
The Executive Director of the Educate Institute Africa emphasized that these steps are crucial for creating a stronger, more effective educational system, stressing that by focusing on these critical areas, the government can make a more substantial and lasting impact on the quality of education.
“By focusing on improving infrastructure, providing adequate teaching materials, and ensuring a sufficient number of qualified teachers, the government can create a stronger, more effective educational system that truly prepares students for the future”
William Boadi, Executive Director of Educate Africa Institute (EAI)
Concerns Over Free SHS Policy
Touching on the government’s flagship Free Senior High School policy, the EducatE Institute Africa noted that while the promise of free education is appealing, the current push for the Free SHS Policy seems more like a political showcase than a genuine solution to the educational crisis.
The advocacy group cautioned that failure on the part of the government to addressing the underlying issues, the quality of education will likely be compromised, even if access is increased.
In conclusion, the Educate Institute Africa insisted that if the Free SHS Policy Bill is passed, it should be subject to continuous review and realignment to ensure it meets the evolving needs of the education sector.
It emphasized that the true test of the government’s commitment to education will be in how it addresses the various foundational challenges confronting the country’s education sector.
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