John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has pledged to make resolving the challenges surrounding the implementation of the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy a top priority for a future NDC government.
This commitment comes amid growing concerns regarding the execution and funding of the policy, which has been a cornerstone of the government's education initiatives.
Addressing representatives from various teacher unions, including the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers, Mahama outlined plans to strengthen the education sector.
He announced his intention to convene a stakeholder forum on education within his first 100 days as president, aimed at gathering input on enhancing and delivering quality education.
Mahama emphasized the inclusive nature of the proposed dialogue, stating, “Within the first 100 days of me becoming president, we will hold a stakeholder dialogue on education. It will have as part of its focus the implementational bottlenecks of the Free SHS, but it is also going to deal with how we can improve financing and teaching and learning at the basic school level.”
He further elaborated that the forum would engage a wide range of stakeholders, including NAGRAT, GNAT, parents, students, and educational experts, to discuss issues such as access, equity, affordability, and financing within the educational system.
Mahama's assurance to address the challenges associated with the Free SHS policy and his commitment to comprehensive education reform underscore his party's dedication to ensuring a robust and inclusive educational framework for all Ghanaian students.
