By Jesse Ampah Owusu
Accra, Jan. 03, GNA – President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has announced that approximately 5.7 million young people have gained access to secondary education through the Free SHS and Free TVET policies, transforming their futures.
Speaking with pride, he emphasized, “Mr. Speaker, I am proud that we had the courage to implement the Free Senior High School policy at the start of my first term, despite calls for a gradual rollout.”
“I am glad that we have removed from the Ghanaian mindset the belief that secondary school education is only for people from certain households and families,” the President stated during his last presentation of the State of Nation Address (SONA) to Parliament.
President Akufo-Addo stated that since 2020, when the first cohort of Free SHS students took the WASSCE, Ghana has consistently seen over 50 per cent of candidates scoring A1 to C6 in all four core subjects.
“This marks a stark improvement compared to the years prior, particularly the period when pass rates in core subjects were largely below fifty
percent 50 per cent,” he added.
President Akufo-Addo highlighted his administration’s focus on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), noting the establishment of 34 new TVET institutions and the upgrading of 62 existing ones to equip the youth with modern skills.
He further emphasized the development of 20 STEM centers and 10 model STEM Senior High Schools across the country, along with the construction of 186 new science laboratories nationwide.
President Akufo-Addo stated that his administration had elevated TVET and STEM education to their rightful status, ensuring they are no longer viewed as fallback options for those unable to achieve top grades.
“We have spent a lot of resources on education in the past eight years, and I am persuaded that it is money well spent and the long-lasting benefits for our society will provide the justification for the expenditure,” he added.
GNA