Minority Leader of Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu says flagship New Patriotic Party's (NPP) Senior High School (SHS)Â programme is a noble idea but could be better if it had gone through a consultative discussion.
He said challenges that are manifesting due to the implementation of the programme could have been addressed if a national dialogue was opened and relevant stakeholders invited to examine the idea and give more suggestions that will go a long way to benefit students in the long run.
According to him, such stakeholders’ engagements would ensure the programme transcends its political limitations.
Mr Iddrisu said it was important to factor in the political dimensions of such programmes due to its sphere of influenceÂ
"If there are no releases from central government schools will be compelled to close down so we cannot rule out the political dimension of what they said and what they are doing".
"We need to pursue this noble objective with an assurance of reliable adequate financing, not experimental financing"
"I think the politicians should allow for a proper academic advice", he stated
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Speaking on Accra-based Citi FM on Tuesday, he said the government had not been completely honest with parents and students about the coverage, claiming the Free SHS at best could be described as an expanded scholarship programme.
He stated that currently, 564,000 students in SHS will not benefit from the president's promise. that comprises of 270,000 and 290,000 in second and third year respectively.
"This means that the government was only rolling out an expanded scholarship for first-year students and we are concerned", he said.
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According to the Tamale South MP, although the president's idea was a noble one and must be appreciated and acknowledged, it was not what was promised.
He said the president during his political campaign made a promise to SHS students and not final year Junior High School (JHS) studentsÂ
"At the time, he was campaigning in the secondary schools, not the final year Junior High School students who are now the target of the free senior high school"......we can afford to get everything wrong in the country, not education", he said
He said the minority's concern was rooted in the mode of the implementation which was fraught with difficulties for parents and students.
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