Mahama neglected his 'progressively Free SHS' students – Napo

Education Minister, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, has accused former president John Mahama of neglecting beneficiaries of his progressively free SHS policy in their second year.

In 2015, the administration of the ex-president introduced the progressively free SHS policy. A statement signed by Jacob A.M Kor, acting Director-General of the Ghana Education Service then stated that the government would cater for the fees of all beneficiary students.

But speaking Tuesday in an interview with Starr News’ Ibrahim Alhassan, Dr. Opoku-Prempeh said not a dime was paid by the previous administration to cover the students.

“The second year of his progressively free SHS was being extended to 100,000 students in boarding schools…till president Mahama left, not a single student had been on that [financial] scholarship,” he said.

He stressed: “I said till president Mahama left…I am speaking on authority, not one student…the records are there. The facts speak for themselves and not a single student in a secondary school out of the 100,000 had been awarded scholarship.”