Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has pushed back against former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s claim that Ghana’s Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme is suffering under the current government.
Speaking at the opening of a stakeholder engagement on the implementation of the new Free SHS policy at Adukrom, Mr. Iddrisu said the Mahama administration had reviewed the programme and was taking steps to address challenges affecting its implementation.
His comments were in response to Dr. Bawumia’s criticism of the programme at the NPP’s National Delegates Conference in Kumasi over the weekend.
“Dr. Mahamdu Bawumia must come again when he says that the Free Senior High School is suffering,” he said.
The Tamale South MP said some of the challenges confronting Free SHS existed under the previous administration and necessitated a review of the programme.
“Maybe to remind him that it was suffering under him and that required us as a government to review the implementation of the Free Senior High School.”
He also rejected claims that students are not receiving adequate meals, attributing improvements to changes in the programme’s funding mechanism.
“President John Dramani Mahama has reviewed the Free Senior High School and its funding mechanism for feeding. With the uncapping of the GED fund, adequate food supplies have been made available to all senior high schools across the country.”
The Education Minister further challenged Dr. Bawumia’s claim that tuition became free under the NPP, arguing that tuition has historically been free at all levels of education in Ghana.
“When Dr. Bawumia said that tuition was free under the new patriotic party, that is also begging the issue.”
“Throughout history and since independence, tuition has remained free at all levels of education in Ghana. That is fact and that is evidence.”
The current NDC administration has maintained the policy while pledging to address challenges surrounding its implementation, including funding and feeding.
