The Second lady, Mrs. Samira Bawumia says the free Senior High School (SHS) policy will not only increase access for all but also facilitate efforts towards achieving gender parity in schools.
She said the policy will allow many more underprivileged students access to education and present them with equal opportunities for life while ensuring girls are also given equal educational opportunities.
The Second Lady was speaking at the 57th Speech and Prize Giving day of the Mfantsiman Girls Senior High School, which was sponsored by the 1986 year group.
Mrs. Bawumia, who is a past student of the school, said while ensuring equitable access for all, the policy will be aligned with teacher retooling and technologically enhanced methods of learning and assessment practices.
That, she said, will likely culminate in high economic standards and entrepreneurship skills.
Mrs. Bawumia said the government will, through the implementation of the policy, ensure high academic standards and entrepreneurship with the girl child in focus.
According to her, this will also help generate coherence in the educational system and promote the role of women in our socio-political and economic space.
She said the urgent need for creativity and entrepreneurial development is a clarion call to put the girl child first not only to ensure gender equality but to justify the need for it, adding that the policy will help make gender distribution in schools better.
She advised the students to work harder and be disciplined to achieve their aspirations.
For her part, a deputy Minister designate for Education, Mrs. Barbara Asher Ayisi, said the government is determined to ensure that quality is not sacrificed as the policy is rolled out in September 2017.
She said the government will take pragmatic steps to ensure high standards at the SHS level despite the free SHS policy.
Mrs. Asher Ayisi said the government is collaborating effectively with various partners in programs such as the secondary education programme project, expansion of physical infrastructure and free supply of core subject textbooks to ensure the success of the programme.
“No one should be denied secondary education because of funding” saying refusing students’ access would be a scar on our collective conscience.’’
She therefore urged all government teachers, parents, non-governmental organisations to play their roles in ensuring the success of the policy.
The headmistress of the school, Mrs. Leticia Agnes Hudgson, said there are some abandoned projects in the school and has solicited the government’s assistance to complete them.
She also said the school needed a 72-seater bus.
The 1986 year group instituted a GH¢1.3m fund for a library with a seed money of GH¢75,000.
Workers, retirees and students who excelled or contributed to the growth of the school were awarded.
SOURCE: Daily Graphic