This move, according to him, is expected to address the furniture deficit in a number of schools as part of his administration’s commitment to dealing with the challenges in the implementation of the Free Senior High School policy.

This comes on the back of reports highlighting challenges associated with the programme and intense criticism from members of the opposition.

iWatch Africa can confirm the dire situation at the Parkoso Community Day Senior High School in the Asokore Mampong Municipality of the Ashanti Region, where some students sat on the bare floor due to the lack of desks.

The President said furniture will also be supplied for dining halls, staff common rooms and computer laboratories while marker boards will be provided for the classrooms.

“We have taken that first step in Ghana and we should deal with the challenges. In dealing with them, tenders have already gone out and so contracts will be awarded for the provision of some 69,500 desks and some 13, 100 bunk beds. Additionally, tender documents have been issued for the supply of furniture for dining halls, staff rooms for teachers, computer laboratories and the provision of marker boards for classrooms,” Nana Addo said.

The President also revealed plans by his government to upgrade facilities in 75 Senior High Schools across the country.

“Under the Secondary Education Improvement Project, government has secured a 40 million US dollar loan from the World Bank for the expansion and upgrading of facilities in 75 Senior High Schools across the country. Construction works of the existing Community Day Senior High Day Schools are ongoing. Government will also upgrade 42 Senior High School into modern school status,” the President added.

Read Also: Two unused community day schools deteriorate despite widespread congestion

The President however failed to provide a timeline within which all these commitments shall be completed.  iWatch Africa can independently confirm that works on several Community Day Senior High Schools have stalled contrary to the President’s claim.

iWatch Africa will continue to monitor government’s effort to deliver on its mandate.

By: Gideon Sarpong | iWatch Africa

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The government released GH¢280 million out of the GH¢486 million required for the flagship program to commence.

iWatch Africa survey of the program’s impact in the lives of the beneficiaries has revealed a strong support for the program among parents and students.

Below is a summary of schools visited by our regional correspondents;

Visit to Ashaiman Senior High School

The free SHS program is ongoing in Ashaiman Senior High in the Ashaiman district. Students expressed great joy for the introduction of the free SHS program. In some of their submissions they stated that the program will help students who hitherto couldn’t have continued their education after completing Junior High School due to financial constraints.

Madam Margaret Hammond, a parent also expressed her delight and gratefulness to the government for the free SHS policy which has brought her a huge financial relief so far as her ward’s education is concerned.

Visit to Aggrey Memorial Senior High School

Mrs. Lydia Bagya, whose ward Nadia Amartei Fio got an admission to Aggrey Memorial Senior High school stated that, she is very much excited about the free SHS because she did not pay schools fees or buy a school uniform for her daughter.

Most parents confirmed they are not paying school fees and they feel a burden has been lifted of them. Some of them kept hailing the President for the initiative.

Visit to Ghana National Senior High School, Cape Coast

Mr. Mawuto Wayem, whose ward Comfort Wayem got placement in Ghana National Senior High School to read General Arts also stated that so far the free education is running smoothly.

According to Mr. Wayem, the program has benefited him because he doesn’t get to pay his ward’s school fees; meaning he gets to save his money.

He further argued that the free SHS policy would be quality because of the aggregates they are accepting, insisting that it will challenge students to learn well.

Read Also: Free SHS: Adisadel College yet to receive Funds for Food and Logistics – Headmaster

The major challenge facing the free SHS program which many have voiced concern has to do with sustainability of the program and a clear guideline from the government as to where it will find money to fund the program moving forward.

The free secondary education implies the absorption of all approved fees currently charged to students in public Senior High Schools by the government.

Amanda Okpara, iWatch Africa Central Region Correspondent and Andrews Adih, our Greater-Accra Regional Correspondent filed this report.  (Gideon Sarpong edited and contributed to it.)

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The Government of Ghana in its effort to afford all qualified students access to Senior High School education begun the implementation of the free SHS program in September 2017.

Deputy Minister of Finance, Abena Osei-Asare, announced two weeks ago that the government has disbursed half of the GHc 486 million earmarked for the free SHS policy.

Speaking to Amanda Okpara, iWatch Africa’s Central Region Correspondent, Mr. Kusi- Yeboah stated that Adisadel College is yet to receive funds for food and also logistics.

He stated, “The free SHS is sustainable, though there are challenges. The free SHS fund has been paid into the schools account but not all. The food and logistics money is not yet in, and the money that was sent also came late. If it will be a one-time payment it would be better. So far the government has taken virtually everything”

The major challenge facing the free SHS program which many have voiced concern has to do with sustainability of the program, and a clear guideline from the government as to where it will find money to fund the program moving forward.

Read Also: Free SHS enrollment running smoothly in the Central Region

The free secondary education implies the absorption of all approved fees currently charged to students in public Senior High Schools by the government.

Amanda Okpara, iWatch Africa Central Region Correspondent filed this report. (Gideon Sarpong edited and contributed to it.)

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Our review of the enrollment process which began last week in several schools across the Central Region proved that many parents are so far satisfied with the registration process.

The Government of Ghana in its effort to afford all qualified students access to Senior High School education has began the implementation of the free SHS program.

The free secondary education implies the absorption of all approved fees currently charged to students in public Senior High Schools by the government.

Speaking to Amanda Okpara, iWatch Africa’s Central Region Correspondent, Mr. Mawuto Wayem, a parent who whose ward got placement in Ghana National Senior High School maintained that so far the free SHS enrollment is running smoothly.

Read Also: iWatch Africa meets the Minister of Information towards deepening transparency in governance

According to Mr. Mawuto Wayem, the free education has benefited him because he doesn’t get to pay his wards school fees, books and school uniforms, meaning he gets to save his money.

The major challenge facing the free SHS program which many have voiced concern has to do with sustainability of the program and a clear guideline from the government as to where it will find money to fund the program moving forward.

Amanda Okpara, iWatch Africa Central Region Correspondent filed this report. (Gideon Sarpong edited and contributed to it.)

The post Free SHS enrollment running smoothly in the Central Region appeared first on iWatch Africa.

The Government of Ghana in its effort to afford all qualified students access to Senior High School education has committed to begin the implementation of the free SHS programme.

The free secondary education implies the absorption of all approved fees currently charged to students in public Senior High Schools by the government.

Read Also: Parents with wards in Class A schools must be allowed to pay fees- Ass. Headmaster Mfantsipim

Speaking to Amanda Okpara, iWatch Africa’s Central Region Correspondent,  Mrs. Assiam expressed her pessimism regarding governments’ ability to release funds in a timely manner to support it flagship campaign promise.

Mrs. Assiam stated, “There is a fear that the release of the money would not flow, because in budgeting money for the government today, it would be granted tomorrow, it would delay.”

The Deputy Director of Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly however agreed that the free SHS program would be beneficial to a lot of financially challenged parents.

“With the benefits, at least those having their wards going, usually that initial money they struggle to get would be taken from them and they can concentrate on provisions and pocket money. Therefore some people would be relieved but some would do their normal things, since it’s not for everyone,” she stated.

Read Also: Education: Mid/third-quarter review of the free SHS policy [Infographic]

The free SHS school program is expected to commence when school resumes in September 2017.

iWatch Africa’s Central Region Correspondent Amanda Okpara filed this report. (Edited by Gideon Sarpong)

The post Release of funds for the free SHS program could delay- Dep. Director Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly appeared first on iWatch Africa.

The Government of Ghana in its effort to afford all qualified students access to Senior High School education has committed to begin the implementation of the free SHS programme.

The free secondary education implies the absorption of all approved fees currently charged to students in public Senior High Schools by the government.

Speaking to iWatch Africa’s Central Region Correspondent, Amanda Okpara, Mr. Yeboah insisted that as an educationist he believes parents with wards in class A schools can afford to pay fees and must be allowed to do so.

He argued that most of the class A schools go for extra tuition in order to make the grades therefore they have the capacity to pay their fees. He also recounted an experience where a single parent offered to pay the fees of up to ten students.

Read Also: Education: Mid/third-quarter review of the free SHS policy [Infographic]

The Assistant Headmaster of  Mfantsipim also argued that for class C and D schools where there are needy but brilliant students, about 15% -20% can pay, the rest may not be able to pay therefore it will be vital to for the government to look at all these dynamics.

The free SHS school program is expected to commence when school resumes in September 2017.

iWatch Africa Central Region Correspondent Amanda Okpara filed this report. (Edited by Gideon Sarpong)

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The free secondary education implies the absorption of all approved fees currently charged to students in public Senior High Schools by the government.

Below is an infographic mid/third-quarter review of the SHS policy before its implementation in September;

Credit: Gideon Sarpong | Policy and Content Strategist | iWatch Africa

The post Education: Mid/third-quarter review of the free SHS policy [Infographic] appeared first on iWatch Africa.

In order to salvage the challenges faced by students, parent and guardians as well as administrators of schools, the government in his 2017 budget statement committed to make basic education truly free and ensure participation by all. The budget statement further disclosed that the government will redefine basic education to include secondary education, covering technical, vocational and agricultural education. This technically implies that Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) will be used as a tool for placement of students into second cycle schools and not for certification. iWatch Africa summarized the government measures to adopt in fulfilling the promise of free Senior High School education for the first term of the 2017/18 academic year in an infographic in the quest of making basic education truly free and ensure participation by all.

As the month of September is only a few days away iWatch Africa will link the citizenry to the real issues on the ground by updating Ghanaians on all the happenings of the Free Senior High School education via it dedicated field staff.

Credit: Moro Seidu | Monitoring & Evaluation | iWatch Africa

The post The Promise of September: Free Senior High School appeared first on iWatch Africa.