All Teachers Alliance Ghana (ATAG) has urged for a comprehensive review of the free senior high school policy to maximize its benefits and impact.
General Secretary Mr. Albert Amoah commended the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) for its policy implementation but admitted the policy was facing serious challenges.
He has therefore proposed a review of the policy so we can benefit from the gains.
One of the challenges he highlighted was the struggles some of the beneficiaries of the policy were having at the tertiary level.
He disclosed that several of the free SHS graduates are finding it difficult to climb the educational ladder after SHS, while those in the university are performing poorly.
In an interview with Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, he emphasised the significance of increasing technical and vocational education to help individuals who are unable to pursue humanities and other university-related courses.
He said “the free SHS policy is a good policy, and we need to commend the government for implementing it. However, the policy needs a holistic review. The truth of the matter is that some of the beneficiaries of the free SHS are finding it difficult to climb the academic ladder. Some of them who are in teacher training schools, nursing training colleges, and other tertiary institutions are finding it difficult or unable to cop. Others have also dropped out. One would ask, What are the reasons? It is not every student who would prefer secondary education. They prefer technical and vocational training, so let us identify these individuals and give them the training.”
Information coming from the various teacher training colleges shows that some of the students are performing poorly, and the reason that has been attributed to this is the time allocated to their semesters while in secondary schools. That is why we need to review the free SHS policy to maximise its benefits, he stressed.
By: Rashid Obodai
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Education