Free SHS: Stop ranting and sanction headmasters – Bia East MP tells Akufo-Addo

National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament [MP] for Bia East constituency in the Western Region, Richard Acheampong says verbal warnings from the government to headmasters on the free SHS policy should cease.

“It will save the President much time and money if proper and appropriate sanctions are put in place for school heads who go contrary to the free SHS policy”, he said.

According to him, he gets irritated when the Ministry of Education claim they have not disbursed funds to some Senior High Schools to sustain the policy due to the delay by some school heads to submit the requirements needed by the Ministry to do so.

“And why should students suffer from the negligence caused by school heads? Why are those headmasters not laid off since they are not ready to comply with the laws of the Ministry for a qualified and ready to work individual employed to occupy their positions?” he asked.




Speaking on UTV’s ‘Adekye Nsroma’ programme, Richard Acheampong indicated that, the introduction of the Free SHS policy is a good cause but needs proper mechanics and strict conditions to keep it active and forever.

“Government must start implementing strict laws that will keep stakeholders from involving in any mischief to collapse the policy”, he stated.

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, says no headmaster or headmistress of any Senior High School in the country is to charge any unapproved or illegal fees, or charge fees already exempted under the Free SHS policy.

According to President Akufo-Addo, he knows there are a handful of reactionary elements in the country who are determined to undermine the Free SHS policy.

He recounted how Government, together with the Ghana Education Service and the Council and the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools, has agreed to absorb all senior high school fees under the Free SHS policy.

“No headmaster or headmistress, therefore, is to charge any unapproved or illegal fees, or charging fees already exempted under the free SHS policy. Government will make sure of this, and sanction any school head who flouts this directive”, he said.

The President continued, “We have a sacred duty to our children, and to the generations beyond, in ensuring that, irrespective of their circumstances, their right to an education is preserved.”

President Akufo-Addo made this known on Saturday, 17th February, 2018, when he attended the 60th-anniversary celebration of Pope John’s Senior High School and Minor Seminary, in Koforidua, in the Eastern Region.

Source:peacefmonline.com