President John Dramani Mahama and Rev. John Ntim Fordjour
Former Deputy Minister of Education, Rev John Ntim Fordjour, has vowed to resist any attempt by the John Dramani Mahama government to tamper with the Free Senior High School (SHS) program.
According to him, information he is gathering on the ongoing National Education Forum organised by the government points to the fact that it wants to limit access to the Free SHS program.
He indicated that one of his predictions was that the government was going to reintroduce a cut-off point for the program and the deliberation at the forum points to the fact that the government intends to do so.
“The two or three specific predictions I made before the education forum started are playing out. And I, Ntim Fordjour, would resist any attempt to mutilate Free SHS.
“One of them is that they are saying that they want to bring back the cut-off (point). I have engaged and debated with Kofi Asare, one of the committee members of the education forum. All they are saying is that they are bringing a cut-off (point),” he said.
About the National Education Forum:
The National Education Forum, launched by President John Dramani Mahama, is a national initiative aimed at addressing key issues within Ghana’s education sector.
The forum, which kicked off on February 18, 2025, in Ho, will span multiple regions and conclude on February 28, 2025.
The theme, “Transforming Education for a Sustainable Future,” serves as a clarion call to address the challenges at all levels of education starting from basic education to secondary school while focusing on equitable growth and sustainability.
One of the forum’s core objectives is to address the sustainability of the Free SHS program. While the initiative has been a significant success, there are concerns about its long-term viability.
Discussions at the forum will focus on finding solutions for sustainable financing, ensuring that quality education is accessible to all without overburdening the national budget.
The focus on sustainability also extends to the broader educational reforms that are needed to address issues such as teacher training, curriculum development, and the balance between access and quality.
BAI/EK
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