An Educationist, Counselor Daniel Fenyi has stated that the current New Patriotic Party (NPP) government led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo started the free Senior High School (free SHS) education policy; and not the erstwhile National Democratic Congress (NDC) government led by former President John Dramani Mahama.
His comments follow a “battle” that has ensued between President Akufo-Addo and Former President Mahama over the inventor of free SHS in the country; with either of them claiming to be the one who started it.
The free SHS programme which many say has become a controversial subject ensures that all senior high school students in public schools in Ghana go to school at no cost.
It could be recalled that NPP, while in opposition had free SHS as its major campaign promise for the 2012 and 2016 elections.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mahama also laid claim that he started the programme while in office as president in the year 2015.
But speaking on Daybreak Upper East program on A1 Radio, Counselor Fenyi said there is no need for a debate on who started the programme; pointing out that President Akufo-Addo, under the current government started free SHS.
“I don’t think it is even a debate. I don’t think it’s a debate at all. Who is making it a debate? Free SHS was implemented by Akufo-Addo; and I don’t think this should be up for discussion.”
“I heard John Mahama is saying he launched it in 2015; if I meet him, I will ask him to tell us who the beneficiaries were.”
“Akufo-Addo came in 2016 and all children in Ghana who were qualified for senior high school didn’t have to pay school fees.” He explained.
Counselor Fenyi indicated that Mr. Mahama would have been right to say he started what is termed as progressively free SHS by putting in place infrastructure; but according to him, the situation of not paying school fees as was known to be the practice, was started by the current government.
Though, counselor Fenyi admits that parents and guardians still incur some cost over their wards’ education in one way or the other, he noted that “the traditional sense of paying school fees” is no more happening.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHZ|Ghana
