Dennis Miracles Aboagye
The Bawumia Campaign Team has sent a strong indication of a possible collapse of the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy should the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, John Mahama, assume the presidency.
Spokesperson for the Bawumia Campaign Team, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, sounded the alarm at a press conference held in Accra yesterday.
Mr. Aboagye highlighted Mahama’s historical opposition to the Free SHS policy, emphasising that the NDC flagbearer had vehemently criticised its feasibility since its inception.
He argued that Mahama’s lack of belief in the pro-poor initiative indicated a looming collapse for the programme if he were to be elected.
Mr. Aboagye went on to highlight Dr. Bawumia’s vision for Ghana’s educational sector, insisting that, “Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s vision on education is one to build Ghana and leverage on technology, data and systems for inclusive education.”
“Under the competent Dr. Bawumia, Free SHS would not be cancelled, contrary to the intentions of the NDC’s incompetent leader who has pledged to cancel it in event he is elected. Dr. Bawumia’s presidency shall improve on it,” he stressed.
“With Dr. Bawumia there would be an enhanced focus on TVET education; while supporting and facilitating the establishment of a National Open University Ghana in collaboration with the private sector, and with a focus on technical, vocational skills and ICT.
“In preparing the Ghanaian Child for the 4th industrial revolution workplace, Dr. Bawumia would enhance the repositioning of the education system towards STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics), Robotics, Artificial Intelligence and vocational skills to cope with demands of the 4th industrial revolution and job creation, while making coding and robotics standard in Senior High Schools,” he pointed out.
Tertiary students, according to Mr. Aboagye, would also see the implementation of the ‘one student one laptop’ policy under a Dr. Bawumia administration, through the provision of zero interest loan with a 70% discount on the cost of the laptops (payable over four years) for tertiary students.
Touching on former President Mahama’s alleged statement that, “Teachers in some SHSs helped students during the examination because there was weak invigilation, leading to high pass rates,” he said the comments are “misguided sentiments.”
He stated that, “While this statement by the former president has reputational damage on our education globally, the blatant disrespect meted by the former President, who should know better, to the students, teachers and parents who sacrificed and contributed to the outstanding performance of the students must be condemned in no uncertain terms.”
“It is most discouraging when students have prepared assiduously for three solid years only to be confronted with incidences of exam leakages,” he added.
BY Nii Adjei Mensahfio