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The Minority in Parliament has raised concerns over the exclusion of private Senior High Schools (SHS) from the Free SHS programme, urging President John Dramani Mahama and Finance Minister-designate Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson to honor their campaign pledge to include private schools in the initiative.
Speaking on the matter during a parliamentary session on Monday, January 13, Dr. Gideon Boako, Member of Parliament for Tano North, criticized the Minister-designate’s dismissive remarks during a press conference addressing the issue.
Dr. Boako alleged that when Dr. Ato Forson was questioned about the National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto’s proposal to extend the Free SHS programme to private institutions, his response appeared evasive.
“When asked whether the programme would cover private schools, the Minister-designate dismissively inquired whether these schools even write the WASSCE exams,” Dr. Boako recounted. He argued that this response ignored the fact that many private SHS participate in the WASSCE.
The MP further reminded President Mahama and the Minister-designate of their previous engagements with leaders of private SHS during the campaign period.
“If the NDC believed private SHS do not participate in WASSCE, why did they promise to include them in the Free SHS programme?” Dr. Boako queried, highlighting frustrations among private school administrators over the unfulfilled promise.
He also posed pointed questions to Dr. Ato Forson and the NDC government, demanding clarity on their intentions.
“What is the Finance Minister-designate waiting for? Was this not their campaign promise? Did they fail to consider the financial implications before making such commitments?” Dr. Boako asked, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the matter to restore faith in the programme’s inclusivity.
Source:Omanghana.com
