Don’t Vote For NDC To Cancel Free SHS – Tarkwa MP Tells Beneficiaries 

The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Tarkwa Nsuaem Constituency in the Western Region, George Mireku Duker, has stressed the need to retain the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to keep the Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy running.

The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, is unconvinced that in the unlikely event that, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its flagbearer, John Mahama, are voted into power, the policy would be cancelled.

Addressing some students of Tarkwa Senior High School (SHS) and Fiaseman Senior High School, to welcome first-year students, who are beneficiaries of the programme, Mr Duker, highlighted the important role the policy has played in the lives of students and parents across the country.

Taking time to explain what used to exist before the introduction of the policy in 2017, the MP, said several students of their ages, were denied access to education at the secondary level, simply because their parents and guardians, could not afford to pay their fees.

He said in many instances, innocent students, were caned and, in some instances, sacked from school by teachers, simply because their parents, did not settle their fees on time.

“Some people just don’t understand, some people don’t get it but I want you to listen to me carefully because some parents could not afford to pay for their ward’s fees… most people like you could not have opportunity to be in school. Most people could not get the opportunity to be like you.

In those days, students were caned for not paying school fees meanwhile, it is not the responsibility of students to pay school fees. Teachers were not going to houses of these parents but they were unleashing these lashes on students like you. Can you imagine if you were them?” he said to woo the students who listened with keen interest.

He went on to highlight the challenges their parents and wards, would have gone through raising moneys for their fees and other expenses, if not for the policy.

The deputy minister, who is seeking to retain his seat for the third time, said to the surprised of the students that, but for Free SHS policy, parents would have been made to pay so much.

“By the grace of God now, no teacher, or teachers, will sack any student from classroom for not paying school fees.

Your parents would have paid the fees, as well as what they would have to give you and that would have been double jeopardy. The consequences would have been dire”, he said.

Mr Duker, who stormed the school with a copy of a previous prospectus of the years in the past, when there was no Free SHS, read details of it.

He mentioned the exorbitant moneys their parents, would have paid if they were in that era.

He mentioned one after the other charges for tuition, furniture, books, exams, stationeries, uniforms, utilities, Parents Teachers Association (PTA) dues, boarding fees and so on.

Ahead of the December 7 general election, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has argued against allowing the NDC to come to power.

They contend that, the opposition party, which fought the policy vehemently while in government in 2016, will scrap it, because they do not believe in it.

Even though, the NDC and it flagbearer, say they do not intend to collapse the programme, which has aided millions of young people into the classroom, the NPP and government, have rejected this position.

It is said that 2.5 million students, have benefitted from the programme since its inception in 2017.

Source: Anchorghana.com