Franklin Cudjoe, founder and president of the policy think tank IMANI Africa, has expressed concerns over the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) recent promise to introduce free tuition for first-year students. He argues that the proposal contradicts the party’s earlier stance on reviewing the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) program, a policy burdening the government’s finances.
In an interview on Joy FM, Cudjoe pointed out that while the NDC’s call to reform Free SHS is well-supported by many, including IMANI Africa, their new promise to offer free tuition to first-year students raises questions. He noted that both initiatives would add significant pressure on the government’s budget, which is already strained.
Cudjoe emphasized the importance of targeting educational support to those truly in need. He stated, “There will always be needy people. With education, there’s still room to support those who definitely require assistance. My concern lies in the inconsistency within the NDC’s stance on free education policies.”
He elaborated that while the NDC had rightly questioned the universal nature of Free SHS, advocating instead for a more targeted approach, their sudden shift to promising free tuition for all first-year students introduces a contradiction. “How the NDC moved from advocating for a review of Free SHS, focusing on aspects like fee payments and infrastructure, to now proposing universal free tuition for first-year students is puzzling. This inconsistency needs clarification,” Cudjoe added.
He also highlighted the issue of expensive textbooks, urging politicians to address this critical aspect of education. According to him, the rising cost of essential learning materials is a significant challenge for students, and finding ways to make textbooks more affordable would have a meaningful impact.
Source: GhanaFeed.Com