Free SHS: the dilemma of our educational system

As an SHS teacher, I have used this opportunity to interact with beneficiaries of the social intervention(FSHS) and the reply I mostly get is ‘’ my parents wouldn’t have gotten money to pay for my admission had the FSHS failed”. Fair enough!!!

But there are problems we the teachers are facing but the fear of victimization is putting us off the hook of truth.

As a senior citizen of the land, and a junior statesman, I topple all fears and gushes out the truth to save our future generation. This problem is multi-faceted.

First, I have always applauded H.E Nana Addo led government for the introduction of the FSHS but certain things should be done and done well. Those in charge of the Free SHS are not up and doing as the syllabi for various programs for the year have been released and teachers have already taught from the syllabi but the problem still lingers.

Why politicians? FSHS became a major campaign policy tool that saw the NPP to power but after its birth, the policy lacks a lot of credibility deficit and a lot need to be done to ensure the improvements and sustenance of this program.

Books (especially exercise books) have not been provided for the form one student so any attempt to conduct an exercise always falls on the ground.

Having consulted many colleague teachers in different schools, the canker is a general problem in the SHS.

I sit to ponder on the question, are the educational ministers aware of this problem? Why are they sitting aloof and hide behind the pettiness of placing students who had issues with placement??? I write to remind them of the hole created out of their aloofness.

Parents have also taken the chance to sleep on their duty in supporting their wards as they have naively crafted a meaning for the term “free”. For parents, free means everything will be provided by the government forgetting education is a shared responsibility.

It is interesting to learn how parents understand FSHS from their ward's point of view that nothing is given to them when coming to school because it is the sole responsibility of government now. (not even students’ savior GARI and SUGAR).

Parents must rise from their concocted definition of FSHS and support the government in making the dream of FSHS grow into fruition, the the government must eschew pettiness cos free education is our constitutional right.

#GiveUsBooks #EducationalMinistersSleepingOnFSHS. SAMUEL WUDANA 0242569686 (President) Tertiary Students of Afigya Kwabre South.(TeSAKS)

P.R.O, Youth for Development.