The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has dismissed an assertion by the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that the free senior high school programme is suffering.
He said the assertion that students were not being provided with meals in the schools was untrue.
"Also attributable to him was that he says that students have no meals. That is economically begging the truth.”
"President John Mahama has reviewed the free senior high school, and its funding mechanism for feeding with the uncapping of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).
Adequate food supplies have been made available to all senior high schools across the country, unlike during the last eight years of the NPP administration.
These are matters anybody, including parents and students, can verify based on evidence available," Mr Iddrisu said at the Students Loan Trust Fund Stakeholders Engagement yesterday.
Believe
The minister said: "I don't want to believe that the free senior high school did not suffer in the last decade or eight years, and that every qualified BECE student got admission to a secondary school of his or her choice.
That practically was impossible and, therefore, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia might come again when he says that the free senior high school is suffering.”
He said when Dr Bawumia said tuition was free under the NPP, that was also begging the issue.
"Throughout history, and since independence, tuition has remained free at all levels of education in Ghana.”
Mr Iddrisu said the government decided to review the free senior high school at three levels - infrastructure, feeding and its financing and quality assurance.
Infrastructure
On infrastructure, he said the government had secured $300 million, and that of it, GH¢2.8 billion would be dedicated to expanding access to secondary education across the country.
He said the government was building 10 new model category A schools and expanding infrastructure in over 100 schools across the country.
"Then, on feeding, I've already responded with the capping of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).” The final one, he said, was on quality assurance.
Teachers strike
On the issue of the teachers' strike, he gave an assurance that the government would get the teachers to go back to work.
"We will get the teachers back to work," he said.
He said the Controller and Accountant General would do a supplementary salary arrangement by October 16, 2026.
"The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission will continue engagement with the striking teachers.”
I only plead with them once again to keep the calendar safe and secure,” Mr Iddrisu said.
