FREE SHS CAN; AND MUST BE!

From sidelines, I have watched and listened to people express their concerns about the introduction of free senior high school education in Ghana as to whether it can or cannot be possible. Form sideline I mean in commercial vehicles (trotro, taxi, etc.), within the society, among peers and even on social media platforms. From this view one can easily tell how important this issue is to the Ghanaian citizens particularly the young ones. With all these flooding of views all over the country, one thing that I have always told myself is this free senior high school education is a must opportunity for every Ghanaian child growing up. At this point I will like to borrow the exact words that were read from the speech of our current president during his inaugural ceremony, H.E Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo –Addo and it said, “be citizens and not just spectators”. I believe that this statement was made that each and every Ghanaian like myself can have a say in how the country is run even if we do not hold high ranks in government offices or whatsoever; and that is exactly what I have chosen to do by pouring down my heartfelt consent through this article.

Yes, I say free senior high school is must opportunity for every Ghanaian child because, consider a parent grooming his wards with only wealth and not teaching them how to earn them, you realize they will end up astray and messed up after all the wealth is gone and what else will be left of him/her? Nothing! It’s same with a country and its citizens particularly the young ones, if education can be provided for them freely that even the needy can afford to educate their wards then not only will we be guiding them towards their well-being but even as country we might end up eradicating poverty at least to about 80% and in some years to come we can get rid of it totally. Knowledge they say is power, and you will all bear with me for a fact that at the senior high school level the child’s foundation towards building a better future begins from there and so if provision of such opportunity can be, which I say must be then we will also be adding a greater resource to our already existing ones and with that I don’t see this country crying out of poverty any more.

According to some social commenters, free senior high school education is impossible without providing the fundamental assets such as infrastructures, books, quality teachers and so on. Indeed, I admit they’re all important but here is the thing that should all these provisions be made available and yet parents can’t afford to pay for the expenses involved then what’s the point? From my own point of view, I believe it would be better if we refurbish already existing structures and make the necessary provisions of the required things and then alongside with that we make it free but if we are going to have to wait and finish setting up all infrastructures meant for education before we make it available to everyone in the country then we are going to wait for long and in wait we will only be delaying some aspects of development. Also I for one, believe that free senior high school education is not supposed to be a substitute to quality education whereby our leaders will think that if they’re making the education free then anything goes. No! that’s not how it’s supposed to be, rather free SHS should complement quality education in the sense that quality infrastructures be made available as I indicated earlier, not necessarily putting up one but if there need be then so be it; quality educational tools, ensuring better structuring of curriculum and so on. In this case you realize the pupils involved will be so enthused and motivated to pursue their dreams by taking on the education programs that suits them best and not ones that are forced on them either by parents or by education authorities.

If I may be right, I believe most of our politicians today might have benefited some aspect of free education in their time, irrespective of it being elementary, senior high or O/A level. And I am sure for those who benefitted they can attest to the fact that it helped them and that what has driven them this far so when I hear some politicians who might have benefitted of such opportunity once saying all sort of negative things like it can’t be possible and all that then I really begin to wonder what exactly runs through their heads. If it was possible for you during your time even when the system hadn’t grown that much, then why can’t it be also now? Well let me not get too personal about this but all I am saying is that free senior high education is a must.

Now delving into the issues of how and what is to be used to facilitate this free senior high school thing, many people have raised their concerns as to whether we should or should not use the funds government claim to be for future generations (heritage fund). Well let me ask this, are generations manufactured or born? I believe they’re born so here’s the thing; if generations are born and the ones to give birth to them with time are lacking the very basic thing required to develop themselves, what generation will be to utilize the so called funds? I think it’s time we stop worrying about a future we are not laying its foundation well and focus on how to rather make it to the future. If children of today who are the future do not get access to free and quality education then where are expecting those generations from, unless we will import them or manufacture them but if not so which fund is available that can serve the purpose of building our education system should be used.

I share my opinions humbly just as I think it should be and not in favor of any political party or whatsoever. Moreover, as a citizen I also have the right to express my thoughts concerning any public agenda or issue hence should anyone reading this disagree with anything, kindly fell free to comment your thought in the right way and not throw cyber jabs at me. So lets us have a say but say it right, thank you.