The vice presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor Opoku-Agyemang has strongly criticized President Akufo-Addo’s recent comment advising parents who can afford private education to opt out of the free Senior High School (SHS) program.
Speaking to journalists after a donation program in Accra, Professor Opoku-Agyemang expressed concern and disappointment with the President’s statement, saying it shows a “lack of understanding and sympathy for the vulnerable.”
She questioned why the President would encourage those who can afford private education to leave the free SHS program while ignoring the plight of those who cannot afford alternative options.
Her response comes after President Akuffo Addo sparked controversy with his comment with some interpreting it as an attempt to undermine the free SHS program.
President Akufo-Addo while speaking at the Annual Ghana Bar Association (GBA) Conference in Kumasi advised parents who can afford private education to consider enrolling their children in fee-paying institutions.
He said, “People who can afford to pay fees for the education of their ward should send them to fee-paying private schools.”
But Professor Opoku-Agyemang, a former lecturer, accused the President of promoting an education system that favors the wealthy over the poor.
“The President’s comment suggests that if you have the means, you should opt out of the free SHS program, but what about those who cannot afford to opt out?” she asked.
“School children are national assets, and we need to be more understanding and sympathetic to the problems they face.”
She argued that instead of encouraging the affluent to abandon the free SHS program, the government should focus on improving the quality of education for all, regardless of socio-economic status.
The free SHS program was introduced to provide free secondary education to all Ghanaian students to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor.
However, it continues to face challenges, including funding constraints and infrastructure deficits.
Story by: Emmanuel Coffie
