Free SHS bill is a smart move to promote Nana Addo’s political legacy – Eduwatch

Africa Education Watch, AKA EduWatch, has described the NPP’s move to implement the Free SHS Bill as a political legacy for Nana Addo.

The intended purpose of the free SHS bill by The NPP would make people and youth in the future believe he made significant reforms in the education sector of Ghana.

The Free Senior High School (Free SHS) Bill will mandate subsequent governments to continue the free SHS system in Ghana.

Speaking on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News show monitored by Thister.com, the Director of Eduwatch argues that the bill’s timing and the government’s approach suggest a focus on political gains rather than long-term educational benefits.

The Executive Director of EduWatch, in a discourse with Citi FM’s Eyewitness News, argued that the Free Senior high School bill’s timing and the government’s approach implores a focus on political gains and legacy rather than a long-term educational reform.

ALSO READ: More than 30 students in hospitals due to food poisoning at Ajumako Afransi Technical Institute

The Executive Director of Eduwatch, Kofi Asare, disclosed that the Free SHS policy had already been covered under the Pre-Tertiary Education Act in the constitution, for which reason he did not understand why the government wanted to implement a new law on it for subsequent governments.

“I am a bit lost because in December 2020 Parliament passed a law called the Pre Tertiary Education Law which is Act 10(49).

This law which was assented on 29th December 2020 has free SHS captured under section 3 which says that ‘Secondary education in its different forms including TVET shall be free and accessible to all eligible candidates.

So this provision in the pre-tertiary education law is to give legal effect, is to give binding effect,” he said on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News.

He added “…I think that perhaps the only reason is, it is a legacy reason. It looks more political legacy kind of style. But in reality, if you ask me the top 10 challenges or problems that require urgent attention on the Free SHS policy, the law would not be in the [space] of 10.”

ALSO READ: NDC Protests Against Free SHS Bill

In agreement with EduWatch’s Kofi Asare, Peter Anti, an official Member of the Institute for Education Studies (IFEST) citing Section 3, of the Pre-Tertiary Education Act, 2020 (Act 1049) has said technically, Free Senior High School is already a law in this country.

“Section 3, of the Pre-Tertiary Education Act, 2020 (Act 1049) states that “Secondary education in its different forms, including TVET, shall be free and accessible to all eligible candidates.”So technically, Free SHS is already a law in the country.

For me, if there is any energy, it should be used to address the numerous challenges of the policy and more importantly find a sustainable means of funding the policy so we can reap its full benefits,” the IFEST official said.

The EduWatch Director’s concerns arise following the announcement by the Majority Leader in Parliament that the Minister for Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, is expected to submit a bill to make the Free Senior High School program permanent.

During a media briefing at a leadership engagement, the government official stated that the Free SHS bill is one of several pieces of legislation scheduled for consideration by Parliament during the third session, beginning on June 6, 2024.

“I’m also able to report that the Education Minister will present the Free SHS Bill to Parliament. The chapter five of the Constitution provides some aspirational indicative. Those are not justiciable, but once by a policy of the government, an aspiration as a message by the constitution is put into action then to make it justiciable, you enact.”

In other words, there are provisions in the constitution that you cannot enforce, you cannot claim the right to those provisions. The fact that they are there does not mean that you can apply to the court to enforce those rights, they are aspirational,” he told journalists.

Share Our Post on the Topic ‘Free SHS bill is to smart move to promote Nana Addo’s political legacy – Eduwatch’.

To Read More Stories, Click Here.