Former Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Koku Anyidoho, has raised concerns about former President John Dramani Mahama’s promise that first-year tertiary students will not pay academic fees.
According to him, this is part of a government initiative to lessen the burden on parents financing the cost of their children’s education.
Mr. Mahama announced this at the launch of the NDC Youth Manifesto.
But in a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), Anyidoho questioned the feasibility of Mahama’s proposal and called on key stakeholders in the education sector, including the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), the Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU), and the Committee of Vice-Chancellors (VCs), to critically assess the practicality of the promise.
Mr. Anyidoho expressed skepticism about how the initiative would be structured and funded, particularly in light of the challenges faced by the Free Senior High School (SHS) programme.
He pointed out the potential difficulties in ensuring dedicated funding for both Free SHS and the proposed free tertiary education for Level 100 students.
“You criticize the Free SHS programme for not being properly structured, yet you make this promise? Respectfully, how is it going to be structured? Do you mean ‘ALL’ Level 100 students in ‘ALL’ Tertiary Schools? How will it be funded? Hmmm!!! Ghana my Motherland,” Anyidoho wrote.
In another post, he further questioned, “Sir, HOW are you going to ensure dedicated funding for Free SHS and also ensure dedicated funding for ALL Level 100 students in ALL Tertiary Schools???”
Mr. Anyidoho cautioned against the imposition of policies that could exacerbate existing challenges in the education sector.
He urged educational bodies to speak out on the feasibility of Mahama’s proposal, warning against allowing politicians to introduce policies that could lead to further problems in the future.
Honestly, as a nationalist/concerned Ghanaian, considering some of the heavy bottlenecks Free SHS faces, it is crucial that, UTAG, TEWU & Committee of VCs comment on the feasibility of this idea. Let’s not allow politicians to impose policies that create problems b4 we talk. pic.twitter.com/PADjLCcmDe
— Samuel Koku Anyidoho🇬🇭 (@KokuAnyidoho) August 12, 2024
So, which is which? Is this also going to be hydra-headed like the amorphous 24hr economic policy – different explanations every day? Is it Free or is it not Free because there is only ONE definition for Free. pic.twitter.com/1FvG4weWJY
— Samuel Koku Anyidoho🇬🇭 (@KokuAnyidoho) August 13, 2024
Source: Adomonline
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