The commentary from an NDC communicator regarding the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy has stirred significant public reaction. In a video circulated on X, she argued that parents should not press President John Mahama on the Free SHS policy, as his priority lies with the 24-hour economy initiative. Her advice to parents unable to afford secondary education for their children was to keep them at home, essentially reverting to pre-Free SHS practices where only one child might attend school at a time due to financial constraints.
This perspective has been met with criticism, as it seems to undermine the principle of educational access for all, which the Free SHS policy was meant to uphold. Critics argue that such statements could alienate voters who view education as a fundamental right that should not be contingent on economic policy priorities. The suggestion to prioritize one child’s education over another’s based on financial capability is seen by many as regressive, potentially widening the educational divide.
However, the NDC’s National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has clarified that the party’s stance is not to abandon but to improve the Free SHS policy. He emphasized the NDC’s intention to address the policy’s implementation challenges, suggesting that the party aims to enhance educational outcomes rather than dismantle the program. His response to a doctored video purportedly showing him advocating for the policy’s cancellation indicates an effort to counteract misinformation and clarify the party’s educational agenda.
This situation highlights a tension within political communication and policy priorities. On one side, there’s the push for economic transformation through the 24-hour economy, which might require reallocating resources or focus away from existing initiatives like Free SHS. On the other, there’s the commitment to education as a tool for social mobility and equality, which Free SHS was designed to support.
Free SHS saga :An NDC communicator has indicated that if you are a parent and. You cannot pay your ward fees let them stay home pic.twitter.com/tVT5FpNQeK
— Caleb Qwofi Right (@calebeshun) January 11, 2025