Bawumia’s Vision for Education to be unveiled

The Campaign Team for the Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has asked the Ministry of Education to shed more light on Ghana’s Educational Reforms, according to a statement released.

In a statement signed by the Director of Communications for the Team, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, on Wednesday, November 6, 2024 it disclosed that the Flagbearer will engage Parents and Students of this country on 10th November 2024 to outline his plans for the future of Ghana’s education.

The address, titled “Protecting Free SHS, Providing Skills for Jobs – The Bawumia Plan,” will offer insight into Dr. Bawumia’s educational agenda, particularly his commitment to fortifying Free SHS and Free Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

As part of this initiative, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Minister for Education, will present on behalf of Dr. Bawumia, to underscore the NPP’s growing emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education.

This focus on STEM is expected to ensure that graduates possess critical skills needed to thrive in a modern, technology-driven job market.

With parents and students expressing concern over the fate of the much-loved Free SHS, Dr. Bawumia aims to provide clarity on his plans to maintain and expand the program, while focusing on equipping young Ghanaians with essential skills for the job market.

In a recent interaction with the youth, Dr. Bawumia engaged them on a priority concern, which is   unemployment. The NPP flagbearer, during the interaction, shared his bold plans and programmes to create 4 million jobs over the next 8 years if elected on 7 December 2024.

Also, his broader plans to offer every young person in Ghana the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills he or she needs to live a productive, dignified and fulfilling life will all be outdoored.

In next Sunday’s special live broadcast on education, the NPP will be engaging parents and students directly, outlining the Presidential Candidate’s commitment to protect and deepen the quality of education from Kindergarten to Free SHS and Free TVET, the statement announced.

Per the statement, the Minister for Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum will be making a comprehensive Presentation on behalf of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to shed more light on the reason for NPP’s growing focus on STEM education. Also, SHS graduates will be assured of Dr. Bawumia’s commitment to their development.

He will emphasise the NPP’s commitment to making tertiary education accessible, ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent SHS graduates from pursuing university studies. This promise aims to reassure families worried about the affordability of higher education and highlights the NPP’s focus on fostering a productive and dignified future for young Ghanaians.

Through this engagement, Dr. Bawumia and his team seek to connect directly with Ghanaian parents and students, conveying the NPP’s dedication to enhancing the quality of education from kindergarten to tertiary levels.

Free Senior High School Policy (FSHS)

The Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy is a government initiative that aims to improve access to secondary education by eliminating fees for public senior and vocational high schools.

The policy was introduced in 2017, targeting first-year students in public Senior High Schools and Technical/Vocational Institutions. Importantly, any Ghanaian child placed in a public second-cycle institution during the 2017 school placement process became entitled to benefit from the Free SHS initiative.

The policy has been controversial, with some critics questioning its financial sustainability and the quality of education.

However, the policy has been largely well-received by the public, and has helped to increase access to secondary education for many.

Additionally, during the State of the FSHS in July, this year, the Education Minister outlined some of the key initiatives implemented to achieve this holistic transformation.

These include curriculum enrichment. The revision of curricula across all levels to align with the latest educational standards and best practices. The updated curriculum for SHS, for instance, places a greater emphasis on STEM subjects, digital literacy and critical thinking to prepare students for the demands of the 21st-century workforce.

Comprehensive programmess to enhance teacher training and professional development to ensure that educators are equipped with the knowledge and skills to deliver high-quality instruction has now shown impressive pass rates in BECE and WASSCE.

Investment in improving school infrastructure and facilities to create a conducive learning environment for students. This includes upgrading classrooms, libraries, laboratories and other educational facilities to support modern teaching and learning practices, as well as establishment of new STEM schools.

Implementation of FSHS to cater for the diverse needs of learners, including academic assistance and non-academic, is a major transformation that has significantly improved access to universal secondary education. It also promoted gender parity at the second cycle level.

According to him, the FSHS has brought several achievements to the education sector, and one of the key achievements is the performance of Ghanaian students in the West African examinations, where two out of the top three performing students were from Ghana.