We will vote for the political party that will fulfill our proposals – GNAPS

The Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) has explicitly expressed its willingness to support any political party that commits to addressing its outlined proposals in the Private Education Manifesto.

During the launch of the Ghana National Association of Private Schools Week, themed ‘2024 Elections: The Private Education Manifesto,’ GNAPS leadership emphasized seven crucial issues they hope the incoming government will tackle.

Primary among these concerns is the request for the government to eliminate the 30% Priority Placement System, cover BECE and WASSCE registration fees for private school students, and extend the Free SHS program to encompass students in private schools.

Addressing the audience, GNAPS President, Prof. Damasus Tuurosong, stressed that implementing the Private Education Manifesto would not only contribute to educational development but also enhance profitability within the private school sector.

He further underlined GNAPS’ readiness to throw its support behind any political party that incorporates these concerns into its manifesto for the upcoming 2024 general elections.

“This election year, GNAPS is a ripe spinster eager to be laid, waiting for a political party to put a wedding ring on the Association’s finger. Marriage to a political party is our survival instinct. And because we are eager to marry, our list of dowry items is not too long,” he said.

He further listed these concerns as follows:

i. Scrap the 30% Priority Placement System;

ii. Just as it does for public school learners, the government should absorb the BECE and WASSCE registration fees paid by private school learners;

iii. Extend the Free SHS programme to private school students;

iv. Review the Education Regulatory Bodies Act 2020 Act 1023 to do away with exorbitant regulatory charges by the National Schools Inspectorate Authority (NaSIA), National Teaching Council (NTC), and National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA);

v. Recognize Low Fee Private Schools as social interventions aimed 2 at educating children in deprived communities, and support them as such;

vi. Abolish nuisance taxes that are hiking the cost of doing business, and review property rates and business operating permits charged by the assemblies; and

vii. Above all, fix the country’s economy to create a conducive business environment for the operation of private schools.