Kindergarten, JHS, SHS will be basic education - Nana Addo

Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has revealed that under his government, three stages of education will comprise the basic education scheme; namely Kindergarten, Junior High School (JHS) and Senior High School (SHS).

Speaking at a rally at the Golden Jubilee Park in Takoradi in the Western Region, Nana Addo noted that the change was a part of a three-pronged approach to transforming the nation's failing educational system noting that vocational and technical schools will also be included.


The definition of the composition of basic education in Ghana has been debated on several occasions with various groups and agencies such as the Caring Kids calling for an extension to include Senior High School. In September of 2012, Nana Frimpomaa II, Chief Executive of Caring Kids is quoted to have said "Basic Education Certificate Examination is too basic to assess the performance of school children at the end of the basic level."


According to Nana Addo despite the efforts of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to derail and rubbish the free SHS policy, every child was going to get the opportunity to go to school through the free SHS policy which was going to commence in 2013.


He challenged the crowd of supporters to disregard the NDC who, according to him, were preaching about introducing free SHS in 20 years.


Nana Addo also promised the people that teachers were going to be treated better under his government with the introduction of a series of schemes.

Speaking on his plans for the transformation of the economy, the NPP flagbearer noted he was going to ensure that the proceeds from the oil and gas exploration changed the lives of the people of the Western Region, and of Ghana as a whole.


He promised that his government, unlike the current administration, was going to show its appreciation to the Western Region for the years of faithfulness and their contribution to the development of the country.


Nana Addo indicated he was going to ensure that the Western Region became the "oil and gas hub of Ghana, and one day of West Africa", adding that he would empower the people for the next generation of the nation's development.


He added that he would work to encourage the young people in the region to get involved in the development of oil and gas.


"We have the team of men and women capable of transforming the fortunes of this country and powering us into the new stage of progress and prosperity", he concluded.