The Chairman of the New Patriotic Party’s Education Committee, Dr. Prince Hamid Armah, has praised the accomplishments of the Free SHS policy.
He emphasized the notable achievements of reaching 50-50 gender parity and a 95% SHS transition rate in the Northern Region as key milestones.
Speaking during the State of Education address by Education Minister Dr. Yaw Adutwum, the Kwesimintim MP remarked that these successes are directly attributable to the Free SHS policy, which has alleviated the financial burden on many Ghanaian families.
Dr. Armah pointed out that without this flagship policy, many girls and students in rural areas would have been deprived of education.
Referencing the minister’s announcement that Ghana has achieved gender parity at the SHS level, with a slight edge for girls, Dr. Armah lauded this as a noteworthy achievement deserving of national celebration.
He also underscored the impressive 95% transition rate for SHS students in the Northern Region, noting that this achievement benefits the entire country.
Emphasizing the importance of these milestones, Dr. Armah reminded us that the constitution mandates non-discrimination in education based on gender, race, or ethnicity. He highlighted that in a culture with patriarchal tendencies, the Free SHS policy and similar interventions have ensured that parents no longer need to choose between their children based on gender.
Dr. Armah referenced an OECD study suggesting that Ghana’s economy could grow 38-fold if all 15-year-olds attain a basic education. He emphasized that each additional year of schooling enhances life prospects and that a 95% transition rate provides better opportunities for youth, potentially reducing poverty significantly.
Regarding the new Creative Arts School, Dr. Armah, also the Deputy Minister for Works and Housing, explained that the curriculum caters to the needs of students with skills in the creative arts. He noted that a specialized school is being built in Kwadaso, Ashanti Region, to support musicians, filmmakers, and other creative professionals, aiming to commercialize their talents.
