General News of Tuesday, 23 October 2012

Source: radioxyzonline.com

Which of your children went to SHS in Ghana? - Minister challenges Nana

Minister for Education, Mr. Lee Ocran, has taken a swipe at the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) over the latter’s free Senior High School education promise.

According to the minister, Nana Akufo-Addo’s promise will be even more valid if he can prove that his children attended SHS in Ghana.

“Akufo-Addo is promising this; he should tell us which of his children attended SHS in Ghana. He should tell us,” he posited.

Mr. Ocran said “every area has its needs. You don’t sit in Accra and say that I’m going to give free education to somebody who hasn’t got it. If you are giving me something which I don’t have access to, you are giving me nothing.”

He urged voters to ignore the promises from the NPP stressing that the NDC’s ideas are the most “sensible” options ahead of the election.

“In this country you must seek equity. Your child goes to a preparatory school, pays 700, 1,400 Ghana cedis a term. Now when he gets admission to Achimota school and you say he should pay 400 Ghana cedis a term, you say you can’t pay,” he said.

He said the NPP’s promise will only widen the existing difference between the haves and have-nots explaining that those who fail to get very good grades from the BECE will not be able to get placement to schools such as Wesley Girls, while the elites who send their children to private schools will enter the schools for free at the expense of the poor.

He argued that if access is expanded, there will be a level entry for all who meet the basic requirement to enter the SHS.