Jonathan Abdallah Salifu, the Upper East Regional Communications Officer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has strongly criticized the current government for what he describes as the neglect of pre-tertiary education since President Akufo-Addo took office.
In a recent interview on A1 Radio, Mr. Salifu claimed that the government’s focus on its flagship Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy has diverted attention away from basic education, particularly at the pre-primary and junior high school levels.
“For the past years since President Akufo-Addo came into office, one thing this government has done is to pay lip service to pre-tertiary education, and that is a fact,” he stated. “Because they campaigned on the Free Senior High School policy, when they came into office, all their attention was on FSHS, to the extent that basic education was neglected. I wouldn’t say 100 percent, but to a large extent—around 70 percent.”
He pointed out that while the government’s FSHS policy has garnered much attention, many basic schools across the country suffer from a lack of essential resources, including furniture. This, he said, has led many parents to seek private school alternatives for their children due to what he termed the neglect of public educational institutions.
Mr. Salifu also expressed concerns about the food supply system in schools, noting that suppliers are often hired from outside regions to cater to local schools. He believes this situation could be improved through decentralization.
He emphasized that the NDC, if voted into power, would implement a system where food suppliers are sourced from the same regions or districts as the schools they serve, which he believes would stimulate local economies and improve service delivery. “Let’s decentralize and grow our own local economy. All the food suppliers, whether they are ten or fifteen, should come from the same region and district. That is what we want to do.”
On the issue of double-track schooling in senior high schools, Mr. Salifu expressed confidence that the attempt to scrap this system is solely driven by the upcoming elections, suggesting that the government’s actions are more politically motivated than evidence-based.
The NDC official also reiterated that John Mahama, the party’s flagbearer, is committed to finding a dedicated source of funding for the Free SHS policy if his party wins the 2024 elections. “John Mahama has made it clear that we are going to find a dedicated source of funding for Free Senior High School.”
He warned that failure to elect a new government could lead to worsening conditions in the education sector. “If we refuse to make a change in this election, we won’t like what will follow.”
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Gifty Eyram Kudiabor|Ghana
