Pre-tertiary teacher unions in Ghana are urging the Minister of Education to halt the proposed Free Senior High School (SHS) bill, advocating instead for comprehensive stakeholder consultations.
During an exclusive interview with our labour correspondent, Daniel Opoku, on July 3, 2024, union leaders emphasized the need for a funding Act rather than a legislative bill to support the free SHS initiative.
The unions highlighted previous education reforms, such as the Anamuah Mensah education policy and the Education Regulatory Bodies Act 2020 (Act 1023) and Pre-tertiary Education Act 2020 (Act 1049), which aimed to enhance educational quality in the country. They expressed astonishment at the current Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum's intent to push the free SHS Act without prior consultation.
Thomas Musah Tanko, General Secretary of GNAT, called for government focus on funding issues, including challenges related to the capitation grant and the school feeding program. "We need an Act for funding pre-tertiary education in Ghana. This law can be set aside for now," he urged.
Similarly, Angel Carbonu, President of NAGRAT, demanded the suspension of the bill, advocating for extensive stakeholder engagement. "I want the President to halt any bill progression to Parliament and promote wider discussions," Carbonu stated.
King Ali Awudu, President of the Coalition of Concerned Teachers, also stressed the necessity of stakeholder involvement. "We have existing laws on pre-tertiary education. Bringing in a free SHS bill without consultation overlooks constitutional provisions already supporting free basic education," Awudu remarked.
The call for broader dialogue reflects a collective stance among educators to ensure sustainable and inclusive educational policies.