Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II says the implementation of the Free Senior High School policy has worsened the unemployment situation in the country.
He said the flagship programme, despite increasing secondary school enrollment, has put a huge strain on the country’s limited resources, thereby aggravating existing job creation challenges.
“The current government has introduced free education up to Senior High School, which now ensures that all Ghanaian children from whatever background are guaranteed free education.
“Considering the value to the nation, this must be one of the boldest policies of the nation but it also brings its challenges. It puts a huge strain on the national budget and raises further the challenge about the creation of jobs for the increasing number of graduates,” he said.
Asantehene's Speech At The University of Memphis, USA.
Watch full video: https://t.co/cHAUHqyjM1 pic.twitter.com/KkypFHxLe7— Manhyia Palace (@ManhyiaPalace) May 6, 2022
Speaking at a Memphis in May event at the University of Memphis in the United States, the Asantehene added that he set up a foundation to support needy, but brilliant children through their education when he became the ruler of the Ashanti kingdom.
He says the foundation has, so far, been the largest private educational intervention which has raised many distinguished personalities in the country.
“When we ascended the golden stool 23 years ago, we proclaimed education as the ultimate priority of our reign. In furtherance of our priority, we established a foundation to support the education of children from poor backgrounds.
“It has provided tuition to students who would, otherwise, have been deprived of basic education. Among them [are] persons who have risen to serve as ministers of state and justices of the courts,” he added.
In a related development, a former University of Ghana Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ernest Aryeetey, says the quality of education in the country’s second cycle institutions is being sacrificed at the expense of Free Senior High School.
Speaking at the 10th Leadership Dialogue Series by the Centre of Social Justice (CSJ), he said the myriad of problems in the public secondary institutions calls for crucial discussions.
“It is important to accept that the decline in quality of education did not begin with Free SHS, but Free SHS will make it worse. It is going to make it worse because the schools will never have the infrastructure that they need.
“Because they don’t have the infrastructure and teachers…the quality won’t come. If you want good schools, you spend money on them,” he stated.
With many Ghanaians lamenting the current state of the country’s economy, some people have called for the review of the Free SHS.
According to a former UG Vice-Chancellor Prof Ivan Addae-Mensah, the policy has not yielded the desired impact since its introduction by the ruling government.
“I must be frank when it comes to its effect on the quality of education, I won’t give it anything than four, probably less. If anything at all, it has lowered the standard of education.
Latest Stories
-
EPA says lead-based paints are dangerous to health, calls for safer alternatives
11 minutes -
Queenmother calls on President-elect Mahama to appoint more women in his government
2 hours -
Atletico Madrid beat Barcelona to go top of La Liga
2 hours -
Usyk breaks Fury’s heart with points win in rematch
3 hours -
Ghana-Russia Centre to run Russian language courses in Ghana
8 hours -
The Hidden Costs of Hunger: How food insecurity undermines mental and physical health in the U.S.
9 hours -
18plus4NDC marks 3rd anniversary with victory celebration in Accra
11 hours -
CREMA workshop highlights collaborative efforts to sustain Akata Lagoon
11 hours -
2024/25 Ghana League: Heart of Lions remain top with win over Basake Holy Stars
13 hours -
Black Queens: Nora Hauptle shares cryptic WAFCON preparation message amid future uncertainty
13 hours -
Re-declaration of parliamentary results affront to our democracy – Joyce Bawah
13 hours -
GPL 2024/25: Vision FC score late to deny Young Apostles third home win
13 hours -
Enhancing community initiatives for coastal resilience: Insights from Keta Lagoon Complex Ramsar Site Workshop
13 hours -
Family Health University College earns a Presidential Charter
14 hours -
GPL 2024/25: Bibiani GoldStars beat Nsoatreman to keep title race alive
14 hours