President John Mahama has announced that beginning in August, students enrolled in second cycle schools as boarders in deprived communities would benefit from the free SHS programme.
The programme which has so far been enjoyed by day students would now be rolled out to cover boarders when the new academic year commences.
According to the president, this is in line with the government’s many efforts to improve access to education in the country.
“Thanks to the expansion in school infrastructure, improvement in textbook availability per pupil, free distribution of textbooks and uniforms nationwide, school enrolment has increased and the number of children at the basic level has also gone up.
“Our nation cannot develop at the pace we all desire if its citizens are not well educated. Education and a skilled human resource are the best assets any nation can have. It is better than any gold and silver resources,’’ he said while speaking at the 70th anniversary ceremony of the Aburi Girls Senior High School.
Ghana has committed to attaining Goal 4 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By 2030, countries should “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.”
The country was commended for bridging the gap between the enrolment of boys and girls in primary education during the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals which ended in 2015.
The concept of providing free senior high school in the country was hugely contested during the 2012 elections.
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