Private schools to join Free SHS in order to abolish double-track
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has promised to include private schools to the Free Senior High School programme introduced by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Giving highlights of the 2020 NDC manifesto on Monday, September 7, 2020, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, stated that a future NDC administration will make the free SHS better and more inclusive.
“The next NDC Government will: make the Free Senior High School Programme better by ensuring that its numerous challenges are addressed, and higher standards introduced. We will expand the Free SHS programme to cover students in private Senior High Schools in underserved/deprived areas to abolish the double-track system,” she said.
National Service/ Ghana Teachers Licensure Examination(GTLE)
NDC says it will in it next administration abolish the one year compulsory National Service and mandatory Ghana Teacher Licensure Examinations (GTLE) for graduates of the Colleges of Education should their flag bearer, John Mahama win the upcoming general elections scheduled for Dec 7.
Currently, under the Akufo-Addo administration, it is obligatory for all tertiary graduates to serve the nation for one year and mandatory for all graduates of Colleges of Education (CoE) to sit for the Teacher Licensure examination conducted by the National Teaching Council (NTC) annually.
But, the opposition National Democratic Congress in its 2020 manifesto has promised to abolish the two services which according to them are not in the interest of the graduates in the country.
Tertiary Education Fees
The Vice Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, says the next administration of the party will transform the country’s education to meet 21st century demands.
Speaking at the launch of the 2020 manifesto of the leading opposition party, Prof Opoku-Agyemang said her experience as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) in the past will come handy in the next NDC administration.
“I had a singular privilege of leading one of Ghana’s premier universities and I have seen closer a challenge that tertiary students face and, of course, those of their families and their friends too.”
To that end, she said the party backs faculty and academia of the universities in their aversion for the Public Universities Bill.
“It is a weak attempt to introduce political control over our universities and to erode academic freedom and institutional autonomy.”
Therefore, the next NDC administration will absorb 50 per cent of fees for the 2020/21 academic year for all university students “as an incentive to mitigate the effects of Covid-19 on students and their families”.
“As a long-time investment in financial access beyond coverage, we intend to increase the students’ loan amount to be commensurate with prevailing educational costs.
“We will restore the students loan plans initiative that we created, which takes care of newly admitted students who are facing financial difficulties even in paying their admission fees. This loan repayment will only begin when beneficiaries gain employment after school.”
OTHERS INCLUDE
*No admission fees into tertiary institutions
*Free WiFi zones in all private, public tertiary institutions
*Implement national apprenticeship program
*Check examination malpractices
*Provide free Tertiary education for persons with disabilities.
*Restore automatic employment for newly trained teachers.
* Provide free laptops to Tertiary students to facilitate participation in virtual classes.
*Promote the use of IT and provide free Wi-Fi in schools to enhance performance of students.
*Provide students and teachers with free tablets loaded with relevant content to facilitate teaching and learning.
*address challenges with the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).
