GNAT calls for a national dialogue on Free SHS.

A national discussion to examine the Free Senior High School (SHS) Program is being called for by the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT).

To sustain the Program, according to the Association, the evaluation should include business entities, parent-teacher associations (PTAs), and other stakeholders.

On August 14, General Secretary of GNAT Thomas Musah Tanko remarked in an interview with TV3’s Daniel Opoku that such a debate will look at ways to pay for the policy.

“What we are saying is let’s have that particular discussion, let’s know how we fund it,” he said.

“The method of funding might include old guys’ donations, PTA donations, returns on investments, special levies, let’s see what we can do.

“So, that dialogue will tell us how we intend to finance the Free SHS, and that will help everyone so that we can be able to improve the quality of teaching and learning,” the speaker continues.

For him, the Program’s current state is negatively affecting kindergarten and other forms of elementary education.

Mr. Musah Tanko claims that KG, primary school, and junior high school (JHS) appear to be choked by the emphasis paid to Free SHS.

We’ll also watch out that the JHS, primary, and kindergarten aren’t killed on the altar of the Free SHS, because if they are, we’ll still have a long way to go in our progress.

September 2017 saw the introduction of free SHS.

Enrollment at the SHS level increased as a result of the policy.

But because most schools lacked suitable facilities, the double track was introduced as a shift system.

The majority of schools are currently experiencing food shortages, and where food is available, the quality has been subpar.

Source: 3News.com