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Mr Kingsley Inkoom (seated left), the acting Editor of the Daily Graphic, briefing Dr Adutwum and Professor Opoku-Amankwa (seated middle) while senior editors of the Editorial Conference look on
Mr Kingsley Inkoom (seated left), the acting Editor of the Daily Graphic, briefing Dr Adutwum and Professor Opoku-Amankwa (seated middle) while senior editors of the Editorial Conference look on

Graphic, education authorities forge collaboration for success of free SHS

The Graphic Communications Group Ltd (GCGL) and the Ministry of Education, have pledged to collaborate to ensure that the government’s flagship education programme, the Free Senior High School (SHS) Policy, succeeds.

“We stand in readiness to help the programme to succeed. We know the importance of the Free SHS policy,” the Ag. Editor of the Daily Graphic, Mr Kingsley K. Inkoom, told a two-man delegation from the Ministry of Education and the GES.

The delegation comprised a Deputy Minister of Education in charge of SHS/Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, and the Director-General of the GES, Prof. Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa.

The two paid a working visit to the head office of the GCGL to seek the support of the Editorial Department of the company and also to learn at first-hand the daily activities of the newsroom.

The delegation, which was met by a section of the Editorial team, led by Mr Inkoom, also interacted with editors and journalists in the newsroom.

Mr Inkoom asked the GES to be forthcoming with information, especially in relation to the Free SHS policy, to enable the media to help educate the public on it.

He said the role of the Daily Graphic as a state-owned news medium was to help the government to succeed, “and the Free SHS is a national programme, so we are duty-bound to ensure that it succeeds.”

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Trusted source

Speaking on the statement by the outgoing President of the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), Mrs Cecilia Kwakye Coffie, Mr Inkoom explained that in publishing stories, trusted sources were critical, and since Mrs Coffie was the President of CHASS, whatever she said was considered authentic and there was no need to doubt her.

He was, however, happy that the GES had reacted in a very professional manner devoid of attacks, adding: “We are very happy that the ministry and the GES have approached the issue this way and we assure you of our readiness to ensure that the programme succeeds.”

Contributing, the Political Editor of the Daily Graphic, Mr Kobby Asmah, asked the GES to be more proactive and strengthen its linkages.

Power of Daily Graphic

Dr Adutwum said the ministry appreciated the work of the Daily Graphic, adding that being the most authoritative newspaper in the country, anything that it carried was considered the truth.

He said a story in the paper which touched on a national programme such as the Free SHS Policy, as was published in the Daily Graphic, caused panic among the general public.

He stressed that the role of the media was crucial in national development and put the politician on his toes to deliver.

Free SHS policy on course

For his part, Prof. Opoku-Amankwa said the Free SHS policy was on course and the funds were available, hence there was no fear whatsoever of “premature closure of SHSs”.

He explained that before the first-year students reported to school, all public SHSs had received an upfront payment of 20 per cent of their funds based on the number of students that they had stated they could admit.

Prof. Opoku-Amankwa explained that the schools were expected to furnish the GES with information on the actual number of students admitted and how the 20 per cent fund was disbursed to enable the GES to disburse the remaining fund.

He, therefore, dismissed rumours and allegations that there were no funds for the programme, adding: “As we speak, the entire fund for the first term is ready. We are awaiting returns from the schools,” he added.

Prof. Opoku-Amankwa pleaded with the Daily Graphic to always get in touch with the GES, especially on national issues such as the Free SHS.

He pledged to make available relevant information to the media and hinted that the ministry, in collaboration with the GES, intended to organise a press briefing fortnightly to update the media on the educational sector.

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