Swedru (CR, Feb. 16, GNA – Vice President Dr
Mahamudu Bawumia says the Free Senior High School (FSHS) programme is the most
significant social intervention since Ghana attained Independence.
Dr Bawumia argued that the Free SHS Policy
had touched and will continue to positively affect the lives of many Ghanaians
including generations unborn.
Vice President Bawumia while touting the
Akufo-Addo government’s credentials in Swedru in the Central Region on
Saturday, said it would continue to pay greater attention to the education of
the country’s children.
Dr Bawumia, who was speaking at the 61st
Speech and Prize Giving Day of the Swedru Senior High School, said the surest
way to develop a nation was through educating the people.
The Akufo-Addo Government is determined to
properly position Ghana to take advantage of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in
the run-up to the 2016 electioneering promised to make secondary education free
when given the power.
Currently, about 1.2 million students are
benefiting from the Free SHS Policy.
“We are investing and building capacity
for the future of this country. The future of this nation depends largely on
the kind of education that is provided for its citizenry,” the Vice
President said.
It is against this backdrop, he said,
President Akufo-Addo focused attention on provision of quality education for
every Ghanaian child, irrespective of their social or economic status.
Every Ghanaian child is entitled to quality
education and must be empowered to become economically independent, he said.
On education infrastructure access, Vice
President Bawumia said initially government faced a lot of educational
infrastructure challenges and thus, came up with the novelty Double Track
System.
“The fact is that without the double track
system, hundreds of thousands of students would not be able to access Free SHS.
“Those who are criticising the double
track system have not offered any alternative therefore abolishing it means abolishing Free SHS as we know it,
“He added.
“This is why government is investing in the
construction of new infrastructure at senior high schools across the country
and some schools are no longer on the double track
“The double track system will therefore
be over in just few years for all schools when the infrastructure is completed,”
Dr Bawumia said.
Dr. Bawumia stated that the Free SHS Policy
should never be put in the hands of those who do not believe in it, adding
that, President Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP’s Free SHS is irreversible
GNA