Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the running mate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2024 elections, has acknowledged the challenges faced by the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy but assured that they will be tackled with determination and effective solutions.
Speaking at the University of Memphis in the United States on Friday, October 18, Dr. Prempeh, widely known as NAPO, reaffirmed the NPP’s unwavering commitment to refining the policy and ensuring that it continues to provide equal educational opportunities for all Ghanaian students.
In his address, NAPO highlighted the significant improvements in student performance in core subjects over the past five years, crediting this success to the Free SHS initiative. He stressed that the policy has strengthened educational outcomes and offered greater access to quality education.
“We do not and cannot pretend that challenges remain. They do. But we will continue to confront them boldly and honestly. No challenge is insurmountable,” he said.
NAPO underscored the importance of the 30% equity policy, which reserves slots in top-tier senior high schools for students from public basic schools in deprived areas, helping to promote inclusivity and bridge the gap between urban and rural education.
He further stressed the NPP’s vision of removing all barriers to education, ensuring that every young Ghanaian’s educational journey is determined by their abilities rather than financial limitations, gender, or location.
“We will keep removing barriers to education at all levels, ensuring that every young Ghanaian’s educational journey is determined by their abilities, not the financial circumstances of their family, not their gender, not their location.
“We believe education must provide every Ghanaian child with open opportunities and a fair start in life, especially as we seek to participate actively in the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” he stated.
