Mahama vows to reform Free SHS Policy

Ghana's opposition leader, John Mahama, has unveiled plans to restructure the administration of the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme, citing concerns over corruption and mismanagement.

In an effort to enhance efficiency and accountability, Mahama proposes transferring the management of the programme to the Ghana Education Service (GES).

According to him, this would bring the policy under a more structured and established institutional framework, ensuring greater oversight.

“We all need to sit and look at what the lapses are and see how we can cure those lapses going forward. We want to cut waste, this government is very good at duplicating and creating new offices and things just to create jobs for the boys," he stated.

“The GES has the mandate and authority to supervise the educational sector so I don’t see why you would have a stand-alone free SHS Secretariat. And I hear the rot and corruption that are going on there.

“I think it’s time to bring it back to GES and let GES superintend over it. Senior High School coordinators would still be senior high coordinators but they would be supervised by GES," he added.

Mahama's proposal is part of his broader vision for education reform in Ghana. The Free SHS programme, introduced in 2017, has been a major priority for the current administration, but Mahama believes that restructuring its administration is essential to improving its effectiveness.

Under Mahama's plan, the GES would be responsible for managing the programme, which would provide greater oversight and accountability. This move is expected to improve the quality of education and ensure that the programme is more efficient and effective.

Mahama's proposal has sparked debate in Ghana, with some critics arguing that it would undermine the progress made by the current administration. However, Mahama's supporters believe that his plan would bring much-needed reforms to the education sector.

The Free SHS programme has been a major success in Ghana, with over 470,000 students enrolled in senior high school in the 2017/18 academic year.

However, the programme has faced challenges, including issues with funding, infrastructure, and quality of education.

Source: Lead News Online