Suspend proposed Free SHS bill and engage stakeholders – NAGRAT to government

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The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has expressed grave concern over the lack of consultation regarding the proposed Free Senior High School Bill which is being discussed among Members of Parliament.

According to the association, they and other teacher unions have not been engaged in the proposal.

They describe as unfortunate, the indication from the Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei-Adutwum to decouple Junior High School (JHS) from Primary School, and also cancel the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) as a precondition for gaining admission to the Senior High School.

“We hereby express our disappointment over the lack of any extensive stakeholder consultations and inputs on the impending supposed Free Senior High School (SHS) Bill,” the Association said in a statement released on July 3, 2024, particularly from the Teacher Unions, whose members are crucial to the implementation of the Free Senior High School programme.

In order to allow for extensive engagement, the Association is requesting that the government postpone introducing the Free SHS Bill to Parliament.Additionally, they pleaded with the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education to reject the bill since it lacks input from stakeholders in education.

“We hereby urge that the government postpone the introduction of the aforementioned measure to Parliament in order to allow for extensive consultation, in the sake of mutual respect and acceptance of any law that may affect education.

“We call on Parliament, especially the Select Committee on Education, that the so-called Bill is without Education Stakeholders’ inputs, particularly the teacher unions, and therefore, should respectively, be rejected,” parts of the statement read.

Background

The Majority in Parliament has announced that it is ready to introduce a Free Senior High School bill.

Implementing the free SHS programme will be made mandatory for subsequent administrations under the legislation.

In a news conference held prior to Parliament’s Tuesday, June 11, 2024, return from recess, Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin made this announcement.

He said that the Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, would soon introduce a finalised law.

As to his statement, the action is taken to hinder any government’s attempt to reverse the policy.

“What that means is that governments have to implement this, if we consider it [the Free SHS bill] as a House,” stressed the Majority Leader.

“Unless it is repealed, no government would have the right to say, I am not going to enforce Free SHS because now it is law, so if you fail, a citizen can apply to the court as his bona fide and the court can exact justice in that citizen’s favour,” he said.

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