Education Minister Adutwum Emphasizes Free and High-Quality Secondary Education Amid Criticism
In a speech at the 63rd Anniversary of the Ghana Muslim Mission in Kumasi, the Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, defended the success of Ghana’s education system, emphasizing the availability of free and high-quality secondary education.
Dr. Adutwum addressed critics who questioned the standard of education in the country, stating that some individuals fail to acknowledge the progress due to a lack of awareness. He highlighted statistics, noting a significant improvement in science exam pass rates, with integrated science seeing a rise from 28 percent in 2015 to 68 percent.
The Education Minister attributed these positive changes to the implementation of the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy in 2017. He pointed out a substantial increase in SHS enrollment by 600,000 students and highlighted the success rate in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) as evidence of the policy’s impact.
“President Akufo-Addo and his Vice brought Free SHS and provided the needed support to make it a success and bring relief to parents,” Dr. Adutwum asserted. He underscored the policy’s role in ensuring inclusiveness and relieving financial burdens on less privileged families.
Reflecting on his own experiences, the Minister stressed the importance of preventing students from dropping out due to financial constraints. “Free SHS is about inclusion because it is a policy helping the poor to access the same schools as the rich,” he declared, expressing his commitment to maintaining and improving the policy.
Dr. Adutwum concluded by addressing potential critics of the Free SHS policy, stating firmly, “If anybody says they will review Free SHS, it means one thing. That person wants to cancel it, and we won’t allow that.” The Minister affirmed the government’s dedication to the continuation of the policy, aiming to provide equal educational opportunities for all Ghanaian children.
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