Former Information Minister, Fatimatu Abubakar has justified the records of Free Senior High School (Free SHS) beneficiaries under the erstwhile Akufo-Addo-led government.
According to her, the policy was not rolled out in isolation.
In an interview on Asempa FM Ekosii Sen, the legal practitioner stated that it included the free Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), which also increased enrolment.
Before the implementation of Free SHS, Fatimatu indicated that almost 200 educational institutions existed and were spread across several ministries.
However, they had different grading systems, certifications, and regulations, and they were recognized differently, hence the need for a structured system, which the Akufo-Addo-led government considered.
She emphasized that any attempt to accuse the previous government of deliberately inflating the numbers would not be a fair judgment.
“Even if the beneficiaries were just 100,000, they did well because we have never received such an intervention at the second cycle level,” she stated.
The clarification follows an announcement by Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, to audit the records, stating that accurate data is important in shaping policy discussions and implementing reforms.
He pointed out discrepancies in the reported figures, referencing his research, which estimates the number of beneficiaries at 3.9 million, compared to the 5.1 million cited in public and parliamentary records.
Reacting to this, Fatimatu lauded it as a step in the right direction, but she said the previous administration would not accept the current records being provided.
She argued that Haruna Iddrisu should have finished the audit before making claims that the beneficiaries were less than five million.
“The power is in their hands now. They should call all the relevant stakeholders who have the data on enrolment and completion. This presents him a fantastic opportunity to audit and announce the figures. But when you are prejudiced even before you enter, I don’t think it is right. They should hasten slowly,” she added.
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