NDC Introduced Free SHS, We Won’t Scrap when Elected- Naana Agyemang

The running mate of the Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has stated that their party appreciates the Free Senior High School (SHS) initiative and won’t scrap it when they win power in December.

According to her, the policy was introduced by their government under the leadership of John Dramani Mahama as President under the brand “Progressively Free Education”.
However, she noted that its implementation and arrangement were better compared to that of the current government.

“We (NDC) introduced free SHS but we called it ‘Progressively Free’. We named it that way because we appreciated the fact that no one likes paying fees but some have the means to do it on their own while others don’t have that privilege. We were not focused on fees alone. We provided shoes, school bags, and books. In our time, there was never a complaint that students didn’t have access to learning materials like books. Our Progressively Free Education was not scandalous, it rolled through smoothly and that is how it has to be.”

Speaking at an event, she asserted and assured that, John Mahama, their 2024 flagbearer, is not against the policy and won’t abolish it when he comes into power.

She promised to however review it to provide quality education to Ghanaian students in high school.

“Anyone who tells you NDC is against Free SHS is ignorant. Anyone who alleges Mr Mahama has vowed to cancel the free SHS should prove it with evidence. We have never said anything like that. Did you ever hear anything like double track during our time? Did you ever see students go to school for three days and go on vacation for three months? That was quality education.”

“If we are implementing free education, it should be quality and done by anyone. They must get the needed knowledge after their three years in school. What we are saying is that their policy is bad and must be reviewed.”

The Free SHS policy was introduced in 2017 by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo providing free senior high and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to all.

The policy has come under scrutiny following myriad challenges it has confronted with a section of the public calling for review.

The government has taken an entrenched stance against any form of review.