By P.K.Yankey
Nkroful (W/R), November 28, GNA – The Western Regional Minister, Dr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah has asked stakeholders in education to appreciate the bold decision taken by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government to roll out the Free Senior High School policy which had quadrupled enrolment in schools.
He said a chunk of the graduates from the Junior High Schools who could have been in the house, were being enrolled in schools to pursue secondary education.
The Minister said with the implementation of the Free Senior High School policy, enrollment in the Western Region had soared from 13,000 to 65,000.
Dr Darko-Mensah, who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Takoradi constituency, was addressing students and staff of the Nkroful Agricultural Senior High School when the Western Regional Secretariat of the Free SHS, toured second cycle schools in the Nzema area.
The tour afforded the Secretariat the opportunity to sensitize the students on the policy and consolidate the gains of the Free SHS policy and the need for students to take advantage and learn very hard to move on to the tertiary level.
Dr Darko-Mensah said an astronomical increase in enrolment since access to secondary schools was free.
He said the government continued to address the challenges with the Free SHS policy in the quest for a holistic education delivery in the country.
The Regional Minister said the policy would be extended to the tertiary level of education.
The Parliamentary Candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Ellembelle, Mr Kwasi Bonzoh advised the students to take advantage of the Free Senior High School policy and learn very hard.
He assured the school of fixing the faulty polytank at the Yinson Hall to deal with some water needs in the school.
Mr Kwasi Bonzoh, who is also the District Chief Executive (DCE) and an old student of NASS, touted his achievements and that of the NPP government in the school.
“We are constructing a-12-unit classroom block, Boys’ Dormitory, an ultra-modern storey, toilet facility and a Girls’ Dormitory which are nearing completion”.
The Western Regional Director at the Free Senior High School Secretariat, Osagyefo Atia Kwaw said parents were relieved of paying money as school fees with the implementation of the Free Senior High School policy.
He said the policy had increased access thereby improving the literacy rate in the Region.
Osagyefo Atia Kwaw commended the NPP government for the bold step to sustain the policy.
Headmaster of NASS, Mr Joseph Kwaw Blay said the free Senior High School policy had led to an increase in school enrollment.
He said as a result, the school had become a transitional school operating the double track system.
He said the school was in dire need of infrastructure to operate a single-track system.
GNA