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Release
AFAG, October
30, 2012
AFAG ENDORSES FREE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
There is no doubt that, quality universal access to secondary
education is the only way to meet the challenges of this
century. Acquiring such an added value, prepares them
effectively, allows them to become economically useful to the
development of this nation.
AFAG is convinced that, as according to the World Bank;
“Secondary education is a gateway to the opportunities and
benefits of economic and social development. Demand for access
to higher levels of education is growing dramatically as
countries approach universal primary education. The global
Education for All (EFA) effort provides added momentum for the
growth in secondary education. Furthermore, globalization and
the increasing demand for a more sophisticated labour force,
combined with the growth of knowledge-based economies gives a
sense of urgency to the heightened demand for secondary
education”(World Bank 2012).
The United Kingdom pursued it in the 1920s and succeeded;
Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Botswana and South Korea have all
tried and succeed. Why not Ghana? AFAG holds high the opinion
that, with an invaluable commitment to secondary education and
development of our human resource, as a nation, we can go
beyond the 6.1% expenditure on our GDP to 7.0%.
We are awed by the inclusion of technical education in the
programmes package. AFAG agree with the assertion that, our
economy is challenged by the problem of inadequate skilled
workmen at the vocational or technical level critical to our
industrialization. Indeed, the educational reforms that saw to
the changes in our educational system from “O” and “A” levels
to the SSS system trumpeted largely, the use of the SSS to
make available middle level manpower for the industrialization
of our economy by NDC 1. Subsequently, the Free Compulsory
Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) which has seen a rhetorical
booster, through; the removal of school under trees and a
one-off free school uniforms allocation by NDC 2.
Our longitudinal analysis however shows the commitment of
generational Ghanaian leaders to the vision of a universal
access to education at various levels. Whilst the Nkrumahist
were for free education at all levels, the PNDC/NDC 1
championed FCUBE at the basic level, whilst the NPP under
President Kufour scaled up FCUBE to include the junior high
school, and strengthened primary education through massive
enrolment using the capitation grant, LEAP and the school
feeding program. The NDC 2 government had a phenomenal vision
of eroding school under trees, but for such massive corruption
rocking it structural and operation systems, the impact of
this program has not seen the day of light.
Election 2012 & Free Education Promises
Noting that, an objective has to be Specific, Measurable,
Attainable and Time bound (SMAT), a SMAT analysis of NDC’s
educational promise in 2008 vis-à-vis that of the NPP,PPP,CPP
and the PNC educational promise of 2008/2012 can be used as a
simple index for analysis.
NDC 2008 Manifesto Promise
Whilst the NDC made a Specific promise to review the 4 years
SHS to 3 and eradicate school under trees, we deemed this
Attainable hence the voting of NDC 2 into government. 4 years
down the line; yes the 4 yes reversal has been Attained but
that of the completed eradication of school under trees has
suffered severe setbacks hence this by our criteria cannot be
Measured and had not been completely done within 4 years hence
this promise was only ambitious un-attainable with time and
un-realistic.
NPP 2008 Manifesto Promise
Though voted out of government, they the NPP have been
consistent from 2008 with their quest for a universal access
to free quality secondary education. We find this promise
Specific, however we are unable to access it further until it
is implemented to access its measurability, when it can
completely be implemented and how it can be attained. However,
with the same level of hope that kept faith in the NDC’s 2008
promise, this vision can be assessed should the NPP be elected
and same analysis applied in 2016 election year?
Nkrumahist Parties
Except for the PPP who have not won an election to be in
power, we hold same the belief that, it is only when any of
those parties have been elected into government that we can
assess them after in an election year.
AFAG’s Position
We endorse absolutely the position of the World Bank (2012);
“In today’s world, secondary education has a vital mission -
one which combines the policy peculiarities of being at the
same time terminal and preparatory, compulsory and
post-compulsory, uniform and diverse, general and vocational.
Secondary education is now being recognized as the cornerstone
of educational systems in the 21st century. Quality secondary
education is indispensable in creating a bright future for
individuals and nations alike”.
Ghanaians need a bright future.AFAG thus endorses absolutely
the promise for a free SHS in Ghana. That is the only way to
go.
Signed
Davis Opoku
Dr. Afriye Ayew
Arnoldd Boateng
Bright Acheampong
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