Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has said government is rolling out the Free Senior High School programme to benefit all Ghanaians, irrespective of their status in the society.
Responding to claims by a section of Ghanaians that the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service are deliberately frustrating students and parents with the placement exercise in order to cut off some students from benefiting from the programme on Accra FM’s Ghana Yensom on Tuesday, September 5, Dr Adutwum said: “We came to serve the people of Ghana. We will implement policies and programmes to help the parents and Ghanaians.
“This will ensure the development we need as a country for all Ghanaians, irrespective you your status in the society.”
Government has announced that the Free SHS programme will start in September with the first year students in all high schools across the country.
Addressing the press on Monday, September 4 Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Adutwum, called on parents not to pay any fees demanded by heads of senior high schools since the government is taking care of all such expenses.
“Students are not supposed to pay any fees,” he said, adding, “As a matter of fact, PTA-levied fees like utilities, development levy, and even teacher motivation are going to be paid by the government, as a result, we’ve made it abundantly clear to headmasters that money should not be the reason why a student should not go to school. Therefore no parent should receive a bill.”
Dr Adutwum added: “Even if PTA meets and decides in consultation with GES that there is something they want to do and they want parents to contribute, it will not be mandatory. If Mr Kojo Mensah doesn’t have money to make that contribution for his ward, the student will not be prevented from going to school.”
Source: Ghana/AccraFM.com
