During his vetting by the Appointments Committee of Parliament on January 20, Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister-Designate for Education, provided a firm assurance regarding President John Dramani Mahama’s stance on the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy.

“Let me assure this committee that President John Dramani Mahama has no option but to cancel Free SHS,” Haruna declared, addressing the public concern and controversy surrounding the policy.

The statement quickly caught attention, especially since the Free SHS program, implemented under the Akufo-Addo administration, has been a hallmark of the current government’s educational agenda.

READ ALSO: Free SHS is a Good Idea, But Akufo-Addo’s Execution is a Failure – Dr. Apaak

However, Haruna emphasized that Mahama, who is running for president again in the 2024 elections, intends to keep the Free SHS policy alive, but with modifications.

“He has stated that he will expand Free SHS,” Haruna added, reinforcing Mahama’s position that the policy will not be scrapped but refined.

The focus, according to Haruna, is on ensuring that the policy aligns with the educational objectives outlined in Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.

“It was to tell Ghanaians that as President of the Republic, he wants to give 2 million to Article 25 of the 1992 Constitution and Article 38, which spells out the objective of our educational policy,” he said.

These constitutional provisions lay the groundwork for an inclusive, equitable, and accessible education system, a promise that Mahama has vowed to uphold.

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