President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to eliminating the double-track system in Senior High Schools (SHS), describing it as a challenge that needs urgent attention. Speaking during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) since his reelection, he outlined plans to accelerate school infrastructure expansion and complete stalled projects to ensure a smooth transition away from the system.
To finance these projects, President Mahama revealed that the Education and Finance Ministries are working to uncap the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund). This strategic move will unlock much-needed funding to complete various SHS projects and enhance educational facilities nationwide.
Addressing concerns about the free SHS policy, President Mahama made it clear that his government has no plans to cancel the programme. Instead, he pledged to improve its implementation to ensure better outcomes for students.
“For the record, I, John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, will not cancel the free SHS programme,” he assured. However, he noted that the actual number of students who have benefited from the programme since its inception stands at about 3.4 million, disputing the 5.1 million figure previously presented by the Akufo-Addo administration. He described the latter as an exaggerated and misleading narrative aimed at political gain.
He further stated that while free SHS has improved access to education, its execution requires significant improvements. The outcomes of the ongoing National Education Forum will be used to guide necessary reforms.
President Mahama also acknowledged the increasing enrolment in tertiary institutions, which has led to overcrowding and inadequate accommodation. To address this, the government plans to expand access to university education, particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
To further improve tertiary education, feasibility studies will commence this year for new public universities or additional campuses in the six newly created regions. Funding for these projects will be sourced from GETFund to ensure equitable access to higher education.
Recognizing the challenges of student accommodation, the President announced that his government would engage with existing public universities to facilitate private sector participation in building hostels. This initiative aims to provide more on-campus housing, creating a conducive learning environment for students.
Additionally, President Mahama assured that academic freedom would be upheld in all institutions while ensuring that universities maintain good governance standards.
Source: GESHub.org
