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\nThe Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) are discussing the possibility of introducing a new policy that will allow well-to-do parents to contribute to the education of their wards in schools, especially at the secondary level.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \nThe new policy according to the Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Adutwum, will be known as the \u201cParent Engagement Policy\u201d.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \nThis new policy will seek to further enhance the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) support mechanism in Ghana’s education system.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \nEarlier this week, President Akuffo-Addo while addressing leadership of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) called for a broader conversation on reviewing the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \nThis comes in the wake of several calls by many Ghanaians for the government to take a second look at the Free SHS programme to find a more sustainable means of funding the initiative due to the fiscal pressure it is posing on the country\u2019s struggling economy.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \nDr Adutwum\u2019s comments seem to suggest that the government has already initiated processes to review the Free SHS policy.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \nAnswering questions on the financial challenges the policy has imposed on the schools, which has led to some them taking levies from parents and students in order to stay afloat, Dr Adutwum told Accra based Adom FM that voluntary contributions are acceptable.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \nHe added that \u201cLevy is not allowed but contributions are acceptable, but we don\u2019t levy parents\u201d.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \nThe Education Minister further cautioned the schools to desist from taking monies from the students, adding that the students are not part of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) for which they should be charged.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cYou can\u2019t levy a student and tell the student not to come to school if they don\u2019t pay their PTA levies\u201d, he said.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cWe will not implement a school system that will make things more difficult for the poor in our Country, it\u2019s not acceptable\u201d, he added.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \nIn September 2017, the Akuffo-Addo led New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration began the implementation of the Free Senior High School policy.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \nThe policy is aimed at removing cost barriers to education while expanding access through the provision of infrastructure.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \nUnder the new policy, the government covers all fees for students admitted to public senior and vocational high schools, boarding fees, meals, textbooks and other charges<\/span>\n<\/p>\n Content created and supplied by: OPolitics (via Opera \n , . , . () , , , , , , , , . \/ , and\/or . , , and\/or , and\/or <\/span>
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