*Bakomora Daniel writes*
As a young graduate with less than a year to come out of the university,the education of my 13 year old junior brother is of great concern to me .He is in JHS2 with a year to enter into senior high.Issues of finance can not be left out when such thoughts run through my mind .Then I remembered that the free SHS system has been implemented making it free for students entering into their first year of senior high education .Such thoughts of mine are hulted as I take time to look at issues that surrounds the entire system and to bring out the components of quality and quantity on a scale with the aim of ascertaining whether or not as a country,we are ready to implement free SHS programme.In doing so,I looked at the entire historical background of education in our country from the period of 1940 till now .
Before I touch on issues from 1940 till date,it is imperative to note that there existed a foundation in the educational structure as a country in both the junior high and the senior high school system .Indeed ,a number of improvement were made during the time as we eventually transitioned from the colonial education system though some argue that our current cariculum is not one that favour our system and our demand as a country .The questions surrounding the feasibility of the system is dependent on a number of critical questions .Are we as a country having the economic muscle to fund the project ? Do we have the needed infrastructure to house the growing number of students to support the smooth sailing of the project ? Do we have the resources to improve technology,the means to ensure that both thoery and practical move hand in hand ? Nkrumah in his seven year development plan ,was clear on how Ghana was to develop.He was of the firm view that inorde for us to make due of our full potential,it was important to ensure direct correlation or relations between theory and practical .This in mind saw the introduction of swift measures in the area of education to ensure the country had its foot on the rigth path .
In the early years 1940 ,the move to ensure an establishment of the university in the Gold coast was far underway. The idea was envisaged by some visionary leaders like JB Danquah who had to advance strong argument to persuade the then governor of the Gold coast and the British government at the time the need to have a university established in the then Gold coast .This move coupled with efforts from the acquist commission set up after the pressures of the 1948 riot .The Gold coast university was established in the country in the year 1948. This move was a remarkable one in the education story and journey as a country .It wasn’t surprising that in the year 1960,the university was elevated to a status that issued it own certificate .This in a report sent to parliament at the time by the then university governing council was to ensure that the university comes out with courses that meet the pressing demand as a country .It is not far from right that the university management then led by prof.Alex Adum kwapong , choose ” integri procedamus” meaning integrity with progress as the motto of the university .It was clear without a sintalia of doubt that we were to progress as a country with integrity.To many,the university was the hope and glory of the country ;the premier university as a matter of fact .
In complementing this efforts ,a number of community junior high schools were established and the existing ones being developed. Religious missionaries in their quest to spread their message,established a number of schools .In light of the vision,senior high schools were also established bringing in massive improvement in our educational system as such efforts were a testimony of the fact that the country was going to develop .Many referred to the country as the hope and glory of Africa.
In 1952,Nkrumah saw the need to establish the university of science and technology now referred to as the kwame Nkrumah university of science and technology to take particular interest in the area of science and technology . Yes ! As far back as 1952 Ghana had seen the need in taking full advantage of science and technology way before Singapore gained independence in 1957 ,before south Africa gained independence in the early years of 1990’s and before Singapore saw the need to take science and technology serious some 40 years ago as well Finland.Today ,the above mentioned countries are great testimony of how education can be of immense benefit when well planned.Finland today is the world best in education .Some years back, a once dominated agriculture economy is doing great in technology because of some decision they took years ago ,Nokia can mentioned when Finland comes to mind .But what can we say of Ghana ,the mistry behind the failed system .
In 1960,the university of cape coast was established to aid in grooming Ghanaian students and to shape them to meet the demand of the growing economy and to help the country get to its desired status .The university also at the time ,was mandated to train students in subject relating to curriculum studies in other that they fill the class rooms .Teaching and learning was of great need to the country.As a nation, we were burnt on investing into what we believed was the sure way to go .On that same score,establishment of the university of winneba as well as the various teacher training colleges and nursing colleges was an assurance that the country was on the right path.At the time, there was very little interest in such areas.To get people read such programme ,the government introduced the allowance system to serve as a means of encouraging them to venture into that area.It is imperative to state that,such students were made to sign an agreement binding them to stay in the country to serve for a number of years before been allowed to leave the country if they so wish .One would ask that after all this years and taking into account the economic constrain as well as the high demand for more nurses and teachers;healthy for government to still pay such allowance .One should know why the allowance were paid and not just request for allowance because they are told there is allowance to be given .This system of giving allowance in Ghana today ,would mean that there would be limited number of intake in order that government is able to fund for the allowance.It is mind blowing to note that fees of such colleges and nursing training far outway university fees which in my view is of great worry .The irony unfolds.
The University of development studies was a re-affirmation of the position that we were on the right part.The government made available the Northern scholarship which today has brought out a number of fine gentlemen from the north including my very good self.But we often fail to talk about the cocoa scholarship which many have benefited as well as government scholarship for the brilliant but needy students.At the time,students in the various established universities had the luxry of enjoying one person to a room ,a room which had a balcony and a main room .They had the privilege of enjoying free coupons for three square meals .Accommodation was free and student loans were given to students in school.Would it be possible to advocate for such privileges now, the answer is no and we must be bold to admit it .As a country ,the financial muscle to enjoy such privileges must be put on hold for the time being to ensure that we address pressing needs in the area of education particular infrastructure.That is why in my view,I support the construction of the 200 E-learning block schools,the community day senior high schools as well as one University per region projects.This saw the establishment of both the University of Mines and Natural resource as well University for Allied Health ,Ho and also some E-learning blocks as well community day senior high school.
However,the system was well managed though some privileges were no more .This is not in any way to state that the were no problems at the time,there were a number of problems which as a country we needed to address.As a people ,we were fully of the knowing that population was going to increase which was going to need infrastructural provisions been made available in both our Junior high and senior high schools .It demanded that as a country,we plan to bridge the gab between underprivileged schools in our various communities ;junior high as well as senior high.There was the need to correct certain areas to meet changing demand.Such areas included ;providing ICT equipment to aid students in the deprived areas so as to use during their studies .There was need to cut the desire of parents resulting to private schools as they sprang up in their numbers.But no, political desire set in covering our sense of vision and corrupting our focus as a country.
In the early years of 2000,the then NPP government led by Mr.Agyekum Kuffor ,introduced the free education in the junior high school .Don’t get me wrong ,I am not against free but have a problem when it compromises with quality .As explained in the historical account,we at certain point in time enjoyed free education but the growing demand in population ,made it more than necessary to let go of certain privileges and plan for the future .Who knows maybe by now,we would have met the infustractial deficit in our country .The introduction of free education brought a lot of problems into the public junior high schools forcing the government to introduce the shift system ;which had some students go to school in the morning and others in the afternoon .Clearly,this was not the way forward as a country that had made very good decision in the area of education.Then came the free feeding programme in the junior high system .Again this was not new in our country but was a misplaced priority due to the difficulties that the country faced at the time .One was forced to either consider expanding the educational system to choosing free JHS system .This happened at a time when we had just come out of HIPIC as a country .The conditions at the time was a clear indication of what government needed to do despite red flags raised by the opposition which eventually the ruling government capitalized into political gain .The doom began to loom at as.
The government also in its second term,introduced the four year system in our various senior high schools.Though statistics indicate that results for the first batch of four year SHS students were very good and I must admit that it was one of the best we ever had as a country since we entered in our democratic dispensation in 1992.That notwithstanding ,the system introduced a lot of hardship which was not controlled because the means to house the students was not there as well as the funds.Government also failed to provide for infrastructural development making it necessary for some schools to introduce levies like infrastructure levy,PTA levy ,house dues , teacher motivation fund as well as sports dues which today is one of the few components that contribute to exorbitant fees in our senior high schools .Schools could not provide for feeding fees though government subsidies were coming,parents therefore were made to pay an amount to support the schools to function .It is no doubt that today,a number of senior high schools have abused the system making it difficult affording senior high education and very expensive .Today, parents cry because of mistakes we made in the past . Though good at the time because they enjoyed, itwas not well planned leading to a back load of problems .
A new government came and tried to ease the system a bit .For once ,there was beginning to be some sense of hope one that would put us back on the tangentry that we set for ourselves as a country .The shift system was gradually cancelled ,making it possible for students to go to school from 7am to 4pm .This bold step saw a turn around in results in the junior high school and a reflection in the BECE results .The statistics is there to show .This step however,affected the release of money to support the feeding capitation in the primary to JHS .A provision which was translated into job for the boys .I have strong exception to that system but would engage on that on another platform .
The massive congestion as a result of the four year system was scrubbed off reducing pressure in the various senior high schools .
The various tertiary institution was no different .lack of supervisory role by government saw an increase in fees in tertiary.As at 2010, admission fees for both BA students and students reading BSc was not up to Ghc350 .Accommodation at time,was not up to Ghc100. Fast forward 2016, students in the same University are paying over GHc2000 as admission fees to read Bsc programmes and and Ghc1400 to read BA related courses .This like in the SHS is no different ,due to need for infrastructural development, students were billed with levies such as infrastructural development ,maintenance levy as well as bench and user fee introduced in 2014 in the University of Ghana to be specific .The ugly head of corruption began to raise its ugly heads as funds for projects no longer came to where they are supposed to go .Accommodation fee for traditional hall now at Ghc812 not to even talk of other private hostels like Africa Union hall whose fee for eight months having four students pay over Ghc2000 each for a room . Typical of the university ,some Vice-chancellor’s abused the system in their favour to the extent that ,funds for specific projects were made to stay for close to 4years and running .An example of such a component is the plant fee in the fee schedule for freshmen University of Ghana students.Education has taken a different turn and has now become a commodity for the highest bidder.Should that be the case ? The answer is no ! Measures needs to be put in place ,the government needs to reconsider its role and also mandated government institutions must work .Education however,doesn’t depend on how much you pay,but how efficient and well managed your institution are.Clearly ,this deficit came as a result of institutional failure institution such the various GES responsible for the second cycle school ,Subsidiary legislation committee in parliament incharge of approval of fees and charges as was as NCTE .
This brings me back to my earlier question ,is free SHS the sure way to go ? The answer we leave to see .Should we pay huge sums of money in educating our children from crech to JHS only to go and benefit free SHS which already is cloud with a number of issues ? Should we enjoy free SHS and not be able to make it to the university because one can’t afford the fees ? Or one would save the money of fees in to be paid in SHS and invest it so they pay for university fees ? Those are questions I keep asking myself .
Do we have the financial muscle ,Is it really the way forward ?Do we distroy Senior high like we did to Junior high ? The decision is ours.
In my view,justs as others sacrificed for what we enjoy today ,it is our time to also sacrifice .We must berewith the system and admit that we are not financially sound to undertake free SHS .This is evident in government not being able to fund even the first face of the project not to talk of paying he remaining 80%’and to provide for the second and third term of the current form ones as well as the form years yet to be admitted.This programme happens at a time when nurses have not been given clearance to work because of funds,this happens at a time when teachers are complaining of poor conditions of service,this happens when teacher’s are not been cleared and a number issues that needs to be addressed this comes at a time where unemployment is on the rise ,at a time where all government service providing companise are on the verge of being given to private because of lack of funds example is ECG .As the old adge goes ;we move from step one to step two ,we plan for the future just as we have done since 1940.Others may argue otherwise and say that ” the money is there ,y3ti shika su nay3 br3 “. The truth is despite our natural wealth, we have not fully taken advantage of our resource making as a developing country and not a developed country If I may ask,what is the percentage on oil that Ghana enjoys, the cocoa industry, the gold ,the forestry and what have you .They are very minimal and if we want to enjoy the best of them,we must begin to take bold decisions and stop the rhetorics. Just like others have done it so must we .Step by step approach to ensuring that we get there .What is the way forward; invest heavily into the areas of infustratctial development and also government resume it rightfully supervisory role .I wouldn’t entirely cancel free SHS ,I would suggest that progressive introduction of the system is employed in that; students who are unable to pay their fees are made direct beneficiary of government scholarship and extend it to all gradually .Instead of demanding 33% of IGF of the various Universities , components such as infrastructural levy and other levies should be taken out to reduce the hike in university fees .
Haven considered the above,I am reminded of the statement made by Obama in 2012 at a shooting incident in Tucson,he said “Let us do all we can to make sure this country lives up to our children’s expectations.
This indeed is the way forward .Do you go for quantity over quality .The time is now !