Free SHS has become a political game for govt – Mahama

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama, has accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of double standards in the Free Senior High School policy discourse.

Government appointees advocate for policy improvement, not review, but Mahama has criticized this stance.

Speaking at the launch of the Ghana National Association of Private Schools week, Mr Mahama condemned the government’s double standards. He points to their commitment to review the policy in an IMF document, contrasting with public statements.

Mahama criticizes the NPP’s lack of transparency and consistency in communication with the IMF, highlighting the disparity between promises and actions. Referring to the IMF agreement, he quotes the government’s pledge to review and rationalize free SHS in the educational sector.

He urges vigilance in understanding the term “review,” emphasizing the government’s use of the term in the IMF agreement.

He encouraged reading the Eduwatch report, especially on free SHS, revealing that over 196,000 qualified children didn’t enroll between 2021 and now.

The report states government spending of ¢5.8 billion, with parents covering 77% and the government 23%, justifying the need for a review.

“There’s hypocrisy in this thing about review. If you look at the IMF agreement that this government has signed, under point 47, page 76.

“This Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government signed an agreement with the IMF in January 2024. And they say that in the educational sector, we will review and rationalise the free SHS. These are their words, not my words.”

“And so when you hear all this politics about my understanding of the review means to abolish, in their own words, they are using review. Sometimes, you must watch our politics. I encourage all of you to get the Eduwatch report and read it, and it is about especially, the free SHS.

“It says that between 2021 to date, over 196,000 children did not take up their place in the free SHS. Even though they were posted and qualified, they didn’t go. We need to find out why they didn’t go.

“The report says that the total amount of money the government has spent on free SHS comes to about ¢5.8 billion. The proportion of the parents is about 77% to the government’s share of about 23%. That is why we must do a review,” he said.