No Cut-off Point For Free SHS – Dr. Osei Adutwum

A Deputy Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum has denied reports that President Akufo-Addo intends to make aggregate 24 the cut-off point for students who hope to benefit from the free senior high school program.

According to him, each year for the past 5 years, about 100,000 students were unable to make it to the various schools they gained admissions into because of financial constraints, and the free senior high School policy aims at correcting that, whiles ecouraging enrollment.

The policy is set to take effect in September 2017 in fulfilment of a long held campaign promise by the New Patriotic Party.

Dr. Adutwum assured that all students who will gain admission into the various senior high schools this academic year which starts in September will enjoy the free senior high school education as promised and government has no intention to complicate things by setting any cut-off point.

”It is the aim of this government to make sure that the poor and less priviledged also get equal opportunity to quality secondary education, so creating a cut-off point would deafeat the main purpose of the policy”.

He asserted that, well-to-do parents should all enjoy the free SHS policy but are welcome to make any donations to support the schools of their respective wards if they have the means to do that.

The Bosomtwi member of parliament rubbished claims by some Ghanaians that the president could not make clear the policy during his encounter with the press last tuesday and praised the president for the way, and manner he explained the policy to the press.

He however disclosed that the ministry of education has liaised with the Ministry of Finance and the various Senior High School heads to electronically devise a way to ensure early released of funds to the schools.

Source: Otecfmghana.com