'Free SHS has come to stay': Dr. Apaak canvasses for support

The NDC (National Democratic Congress) never said [Free SHS ] was a bad idea,” the Member of Parliament for Builsa South opened his remarks on the policy and called on all to ensure its sustenance while contributing to a discussion on TV3’s New Day, Saturday. Dr. Clement Apaak who is a former presidential staffer noted that the main point of contention was the NDC’s adherence to a progressive implementation, which he claimed has been vindicated by the method adopted by the government to implement it. Government has not fully implemented the policy as it envisaged while in opposition when it promised to make secondary education free for all. The policy took off on Monday, September 11, covering only first year students who wrote the 2017 Basic Education Certificate Examinations. Dr. Apaak therefore accused the government of “discriminating” against continuing students and questioned the equity promised by the government. Nonetheless, the MP concedes, “we all agree the policy has come to being and it has come to stay”. He further appealed, “once it has been rolled out it has become a national policy that we all have to make sure it succeeds”. Since it is a national policy, he said, the NDC will point out the shortcomings and identify areas that need tweaking to serve Ghanaians better. “We must all have an interest and play an active role to ensure that the programme succeeds,” Dr. Apaak stated. But Andrew Kofi Egyapa Mercer, Member of Parliament for Sekondi, rejected the position that what the government is implementing is similar to the progressive free SHS the NDC preached. Though the differentiation did not come out clearly, he said the implementation has increased enrollment. He argued that the NDC was not bold on the policy because he “knew they have bankrupted the economy so much that the government can’t support the policy”. By Isaac Essel |editors.3news.com | Ghana