John Mahama Outlines Comprehensive Measures in Enhancing Free SHS Policy

Former President John Dramani Mahama, the flag bearer and leader of the National Democratic Congress has outlined detailed measures his government will take in enhancing the Free Senior High School educational policy if elected President in the upcoming December 7 elections.

In an engagement with the youth during the launch of the Youth Manifesto of the NDC, John Dramani Mahama mentioned that, the Free SHS policy has over the years, faced a myriad of obstacles due to a lack of proper stakeholder engagements before its implementation.

In his view, the policy is failing to attain its full potential due to a lack of infrastructure, unstained funding as well as lack of motivation for teaching and non-teaching staff.  

He, therefore, proposed on Monday, August 12 at the auditorium of the University of Professional Studies, Accra, that, “We shall decentralize the procurement of food and other supplies to the headmaster's school basis. In order to improve the quality of food and also boost the local economies in the district where the schools are located. We shall expand access by building more infrastructure in existing secondary schools, and we shall dedicate funding to completing the E blocks in order that more children can have the chance to go to school.”

Mr. Mahama, who is unhappy with the shift system stated that, his government, through a broader consultation with stakeholders in the educational sector, will abolish the double track system so that all school children can go to school at the same time and vacate at the same time, adding that the kids will not come and stay at home for four months and go to school, having forgotten everything they learnt in the previous term.

In his address about the financial barriers being the headache of many tertiary students, Mr Mahama announced plans to partner with the private sector to develop affordable on-campus housing packages in order to alleviate the strenuous efforts students have to go through.

Mr. Mahama said, “My government will partner with the private sector to demarcate a portion of the vast tracts of land that the universities are holding to construct hostels for students on campus at reasonable rates and thereby address the accommodation obstacles that students are facing.”

“The professional institutions of architects and engineers will be engaged to provide uniform design and the costing of the hostels that will be built on all campuses, and that will be under our programme of 'bed for all' for all students to be able to stay on campus.”

He further announced the “No Fee stress Initiative” as a means of further supporting students by offering a fee-paying support system through the Student Loan Trust Fund (STLF).

“We deplore the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration's practice of opening recruitment portals only when elections are due. We will implement a policy of continuously recruiting teachers and nurses, especially in underserved areas," Mr. Mahama said while criticising the current government’s sporadic recruitment practices, promising to implement continuous recruitment for teachers and nurses with more emphasis placed on deprived communities across the country.

“We will make teacher licensing a part of the final year programme in the college of education. The John and Jane administration will implement tactics to address teacher accommodation obstacles in rural areas, offering incentives to encourage them to accept postings in these underserved regions,” he added while addressing the Teacher Licensure exams which the NDC has vehemently opposed.

Kobina Darlington/