It is unfortunate that the NDC Deputy Minister of Education is blaming the former administration for the inertia and short-sightedness of his own administration. The challenges the NDC administration is facing in its 3-year Senior High School policy is unfortunate, and something of their own making.

The NPP administration set up an implementation committee and tasked it to do a Need Assessment study of all Senior High Schools in the country, after which a comprehensive implementation plan was drawn.

Following from this plan, provision was made in the GETFUND allocation and funds were committed to the construction of classrooms in the 2008 budget. This was to be continued in 2009 and beyond.

In addition, relevant textbooks and related syllabi were ready in 2008 for use in the schools. Furthermore, Teacher Training Colleges were upgraded, and laboratories and libraries were improved to enhance the competence of the teachers in preparation for the new policy implementation.

However, due to the determination of the current administration to abandon the 4-year policy introduced by the NPP administration, the NDC set aside the implementation plan and totally failed to use it. This was because the NDC was determined to fulfill their campaign pledge to Ghanaians as enshrined in their party manifesto.

The current administration completely chose to ignore the existence of students in the 4-year program and how the introduction of the 3-year plan would impact on schools and students.

Now that they are caught in their tracks due to their negligence, incompetence and inaction, the government is finding means of assigning blame. Instead of accepting their administrative shortcomings and lack of vision, they are blaming the NPP administration.

The past administration left behind an implementation plan which NDC has ignored or just refused to execute.

We want to remind the NDC that the NPP left behind a comprehensive implementation plan which is available for inspection at the Ministry of Education.

They should blame themselves instead of undermining the NPP plan. The NDC must stand up and bite the bullet and stop shifting the blame unto the erstwhile NPP administration.

*…….Signed…….*

*Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey*

*NPP National Chairman*