|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Former Deputy Minister of Education, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, has strongly criticized the government’s proposed National Education Forum, describing it as an unnecessary drain on Ghana’s resources.
The National Education Forum is set to begin on Tuesday, February 18, and will conclude with a two-day validation conference from Thursday, February 27, in Accra. The forum will start in Ho, the capital of the Volta Region, before moving to other regions, with the first zonal engagement covering both Volta and Oti Regions.
In an interview on Channel One Newsroom on Monday, February 17, Fordjour questioned the purpose of the forum and stressed the need for the Mahama administration to focus on executing its proposed education policies.
> “I must say that we do not need a national education forum to be able to set a vision for President Mahama because, as a president having ample time to campaign, having set out a team to draft your manifesto, it is supposed that within that period your vision is cut out,” he stated.
He further emphasized that the president had already made clear promises to Ghanaians regarding the education sector, and what citizens now expect is the practical implementation of those commitments.
Fordjour pointed out several key areas of public interest, including:
Expanding the Free SHS policy to cover private schools
Paying first-year tuition fees for tertiary students in public institutions
Abolishing the double-track system
> “They (Ghanaians) want to see how that finds expression in the budget statement that is going to be presented,” he remarked.
Additionally, Fordjour argued that the forum was unnecessary, given that Ghana already has a well-structured Education Strategic Plan (2018–2030), which was developed in line with international standards.
> “What they are going to do is nothing new. It is going to be a waste of time and a waste of Ghana’s precious resources,” he asserted.
He explained that this strategic plan, which aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), was created with input from education experts, professors, civil society organisations (CSOs), and both local and international development partners.
In light of this, Fordjour urged the Mahama administration to prioritize the execution of existing policies rather than spending time and resources on a new forum.
Email Daily Mail GH: stories@dailymailgh.com or
Whatsapp: +233(0)509928122
