Former Education Minister Criticises Mahama's Gov't for Including Private Schools in Free SHS
- Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has criticised the President John Mahama-led government for extending the Free SHS policy to private schools
- He argued that the double-track system had been phased out successfully under the NPP and that bringing in private schools made no sense
- The current government announced that the policy extension would begin in the next academic year as part of plans to decongest public schools
Former Minister for Education under the erstwhile President Nana Akufo-Addo administration has criticised the President John Mahama-led government for extending the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) to private schools.
Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum suggested that there was no logic in the decision to include private schools in the free education policy.
Source: Facebook
"I don't understand the logic. What are the schools that you want to take off double track? Let me give you an example: Presec is double track. You don't want Presec to be double track anymore. Find comparable schools that parents would gladly accept to go to that are private schools, so that we can decongest Presec," he said.
"So, we have ICS, International Community School, not too far away from Presec. Would parents whose children are supposed to go to Presec be willing to go to ICS? I bet they would, but can you afford it? When you don't get the whole thing right, you will prescribe the wrong solution," he added.
The former Education Minister made these remarks while speaking on the decision of the current government to extend the Free SHS policy to private schools, during an interview with Joy News.
Watch the full interview below:
What is Ghana's education double-track system?
The double-track system is an educational policy introduced by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to divide students into two alternating tracks to accommodate increased enrolment under the Free SHS programme.
According to the former minister, the double-track system was a novelty introduced to help deal with congestion in second cycle schools owing to the rollout of the Free SHS policy.
He also dismissed suggestions that the double-track system negatively impacts the quality of education in Ghana.
In any case, Dr Adutwum said the NPP-led government had taken about 70 per cent of schools off the double-track system before leaving office on January 7, 2025.
NDC government phasing out double-track system
Meanwhile, the government has announced that private senior high schools will be brought under the Free SHS programme starting next academic year, in fulfilment of its campaign promise to phase out the double-track system.
This was disclosed by the Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Clement Apaak, during the launch of the revised school selection guidelines for candidates preparing for the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). He announced the extension at the event.
Read the Facebook post about Dr Adutwum's criticms of the Free SHS extension below:
Adutwum's free SHS expansion criticism sparks reactions
Dr Adutwum's criticism of the ruling party's decision to expand the free SHS programme to the private schools has sparked reactions on social media.
YEN.com.gh gathered a few of the reactions below:
@Abdulai Imoro said:
"But you understand the logic of placing aggregate 45 on a General Science programme to be sponsored by the state?"
@Samson Lambon also said:
"The logic is that the students in the private schools are Ghanaians."
@Salifu Saaka Mahamudu commented:
"How will you understand, it's beyond your imagination. Just thinking outside the box. How are private hospitals working under the National Health Insurance Scheme?"
Source: Facebook
Adutwum distances himself from bawumia’s apology
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Dr Osei Adutwum distanced himself from Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s apology on the NPP’s past performance in government.
The Bosomtwi MP said he would not admit failure, especially in the education sector, and urged the former Vice-President to apologise for his actions alone.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
