Free SHS Double Track System Was Borne Out Of 24-hour Mindset; I Wonder Why NDC Criticised It – Yefri Chief

The Chief of Yefri in the Nkoranza North Constituency of the Bono East Region, Nana Takyi Poku Gyimah, has commended the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for implementing sound policies in the education sector, particularly its flagship programme, the Free Senior High School.

The Chief in his commendation during a visit to his palace by the New Patriotic Party’s running mate for election 2024, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh did not agree with critics of the Free SHS particularly the running of a double track system, when at the same time they’re proposing a 24-hour economy policy.

“The good works going on we’ve seen them. By God’s grace, I am a Deputy Director of Education so I am in charge of supervision in the Techiman North District. So, I am in a very good position to know how things are going when it comes to education. I’ve taught for some time before I came into management, and I think what the NPP has introduced is one of the best that I can speak to.

One of the initiatives I admire is what we call differentiated learning. We’ve seen that not all children have the same mental capacity. Someone can get to class 6 and yet have the mental capacity of someone in class 2. But we’re able to let the students progress and then we group them in such a way that any child that goes through undergoes remedial classes that make them fit well into society. This is a very good and huge policy but we barely talk about it.”

The Chief suggested that a double-track Free SHS system is akin to running a 24-hour economy.

The Chief, who is an educationist with the Ghana Education Service (GES), noted that following the introduction of the Free SHS policy, school enrollment had increased overwhelmingly compelling the government to think outside the box to come out with a stopgap measure to deal with the challenges. This, he said, was what occasioned the double track system as a way of making maximum use of scarce resources.

Despite the utility of this measure, critics of the policy bastardized the double-track system and claimed it was evidence of ill-preparation on the part of the policymakers and implementers. Nana Takyi made these remarks when the NPP vice presidential candidate, Hon. Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, paid a courtesy call on him on Saturday, 31, 2024, at his palace.

“When it comes to the Free SHS, it is exceptional and cannot be overstated. One thing I’ve analysed and concluded is that, if there’s any policy that is better than the 24-hour economy, then it is the shift system [Double Track System] that was criticised by people. If the shift system was useless, making effective use of the facilities that we have, is why we created a shift system, and it is on the same basis that a 24-hour economy can be implemented.

Some of the policies aren’t trumpeted enough, but I know they’re very good. What you’re doing we appreciate it, but we also cannot overlook the economic hardships. There’s hardship in the country so when you’re able to break the eight, make sure Ghanaians are relieved.”

The Chief also used the occasion to eulogize the NPP government for bringing development to his area but appealed to the party to take steps to fix roads in the area and facilitate the establishment of a tertiary institution in the enclave.

He also noted that while he was commending the government for implementing good policies, especially in the education sector, steps must be taken to improve the economy to address the hardships citizens were facing.

He singled out the party’s 2024 running mate, Hon. Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, for his courage and boldness in spearheading the Free SHS implementation.

He also commended the former Education Minister for bringing in the double-track system as a stopgap measure to deal with the initial implementation challenges. Such boldness on the part of a political leader, according to the Chief, is what is required to deal with the myriad of challenges facing this country.

On his part, Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh thanked the Chief for appreciating the good works of the NPP government and urged him and his subjects to continue to put their confidence in the NPP.

He rallied their support for Dr Bawumia’s bold solutions for the country’s future and pleaded with them to vote massively for the presidential candidate and the party’s parliamentary candidate for Nkoranza North Constituency, Jacqueline Boatemaa Bonsu.

 

 

 

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