A presidential aspirant of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Alhaji Nurideen Iddrisu is of the view that parents are paying more fees under the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy than when the system was not free.
According to him, because the policy was not well planned, the government is unable to fund it properly which has resulted in parents paying extra monies to ensure that their children get a quality education.
He explained that the double track system introduced in September as part of the free SHS system meant that parents had to look for teachers and pay them to organise extra classes for their children who are on alternate tracks.
Speaking to Graphic Online in Accra, Alhaji Nurideen said the food the students are fed with was not enough and that parents had to send a lot of monies to their children to buy food to supplement what they are given in school.
President Akufo-Addo launched the Free SHS policy on September 12, 2017, describing the programme as the means of creating a society of opportunities and empowerment for every citizen.
The Free SHS policy was one of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) main campaign promises in the 2016 general elections.
According to Alhaji Nurideen, many head teachers are afraid to talk about the challenges confronting the implementation of the free SHS policy and the double track system because they fear that they will be victimised or sacked.
He stressed that head teachers who complain about the policy are victimised, saying “there is no freedom in this nation.”
"The vindictiveness is too much. Once you speak up, you are picked up and you are sacked," Alhaji Nurideen said.
"Those who introduced it (the double track), how many of them have their children in the schools. They will never put their children there because the system is not working," he quizzed.
Alhaji Nurideen, who is a banker and oil and gas consultant was of the view that the government introduced the double track component of the free SHS policy due to lack of infrastructure and proper planning.
He said the government could have saved itself from embarrassment in the implementation of the free SHS policy by simply apologising to Ghanaians that it is not ready for the policy.
According to him, the double track would lead to multiple tracks if the necessary facilities are not instituted to ensure the proper implementation of the policy.
Alhaji Nurideen said the president himself does not even know how much the system cost, explaining that when he (President Akufo-Addo) was asked on BBC interview on how much it will cost and the source of funding for the project, he was unable to answer.
He explained that for the country to succeed, it ought to have a national plan that would be followed by all, no matter the government in office.
He said because the country does not have a national plan and policy, each political party does whatever it thinks it is good and in the end, nothing is achieved in our development as a nation.
Alhaji Nurideen is seeking to be elected to lead NDC in the 2020 elections. He is competing with 13 others, including former President John Dramani Mahama and Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, a former Minister of Trade and Industries.
Source: Daily Graphic
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***barred word*** gyimigyimii ndc""who told you"""***barred word***'***barred word***"
where is this thing coming from,ooooo NDC
NDC and their ***barred word*** at it again?!!!!
He does not understand the issues. He owes banks too much, he should go and pay Royal Bank which he contributed for its collapse.
look at this ***barred word*** so called buisness man too talking, jm is againt free shs so he also has to add his voice
FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE....SO THIS ONE TOO WANTS TO BE PRESIDENT? OH NDC WHERE DID GHANA GO WRONG?
I am surprised. The very Northerners including this man and JDM who enjoyed the free SHS and are in positions are the same people who are against it. Can someone explain it to me Is it hatred, selfish against the southerners or simply devilish.Hmmmmmmm
Nkwasea akeka koaaa! look at that! he doesn't even understand what he is saying, so ndc don't have any cultured and decent person to lead them them ? gone are the days people votes anyhow and even at all if not Prof. Mills ndc would have had it tough to get that power,the runoff turned against Nana because the people thought they had to give Prof. Mills also the chance before Nana that was the plan. 2012 elections mahama lost according to the verdict of the 5-4 and Dr Afari Djan has confessed he warned of rigging and that the opposition should be vigilant because he will declare any results that came to him, and Justice Atuguba also said the same thing,that because of peace that they declared mahama the winner. Ghanaians weren't happy but accepted and vowed to boot ndc away by h000k or cr000k and it came to pass with that unprecedented and humiliating defeat. Ndc will suffer the worst in 2020, Ghanaians have a government of their choice who listen to them, not those who will release bulldogs to attack, people not worth a salt were insulting successful Ghanaians, denigrating our leaders and vilifying our men of God and they think we are f000*00ls to bring them back for more insults and damage. Over the dead bodies of Ghanaians! Keep on insulting and in a little while you will be hiding because your party won't be attractive to anyone and your political career will be dead.
Another NDC m0r0n who wants to be president.....
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT MR PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL