Anhwiaso Omanhene calls for extension of SHS duration to 4 years
The Omanhene of the Anhwiaso Traditional Area in the Western Region, Nana Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyebi II, has suggested to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to consider re-introducing the four-year duration for senior high school (SHS) education when given the mandate to govern the country.
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He claimed that the current three-year duration had contributed to the dwindling performance of students in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) over the years.
According to the chief, this year’s WASSCE results, which he described as abysmal, re-enforces the need for the extension of the programme to four years to enable the students to prepare adequately for the WASSCE.
"The time students spend in school presently is not even up to the three years but rather two-and-a- half years. The little time spent in school is what is contributing to the poor performance by the students,” he claimed.
Courtesy call
Ogyeahohoo Gyebi made the suggestion when the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, paid a courtesy call on him at his palace at Sefwi Anhwiaso at the start of a five-day campaign tour of the northern part of the Western Region on Wednesday.
Concerns
"If this is what we are witnessing, then Ghana is in danger," the Omanhene said.
He said when the NPP wins the December general election, it should consider improving on existing facilities in SHSs as part of measures to facilitate effective teaching and learning in the schools.
The chief also urged Nana Akufo-Addo not to abandon the ‘free SHS’ concept he proposed some time ago, since it would encourage more parents and guardians to enrol their children and wards in schools because the prevailing situation of fee paying was rather dissuading them from doing so.
He said he was confident that a future government of the NPP was capable of carrying the plan through.
Vilifications
Ogyeahohoo Gyebi disagreed with those who sought to vilify chiefs and other opinion leaders who made their views clear on pertinent national issues, insisting that “like everybody else, chiefs also have the right to speak their minds”.
He subsequently prayed for God’s blessings for the NPP and its flag bearer and wished them successful electioneering.
He entreated Nana Akufo-Addo not to neglect Anhwiaso on his accession to power but support the area in its development derive.
Pledge
For his part, Nana Akufo-Addo pledged to redeem all promises he had made to the people of Ghana when the party is given the mandate to rule.
He said an NPP government would not tolerate acts of corruption but ensure that it carries through all its intended programmes, including the free SHS concept and the decision to have industrial development in every district.
The NPP flag bearer said the decision by the party to put up factories in all districts of the country is achievable.
He expressed gratitude to the chiefs of Anhwiaso for the warm reception accorded him and his entourage and the faith the people had expressed in him and the NPP.