The Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament's Education Committee, Dr. Clement Apaak, has accused President Akufo-Addo of being dishonest in claiming that the quality of secondary education has improved following the introduction of the free senior high school policy.Dr.

0

Apaak contends that this assertion is not only misleading but also deceptive, especially given evidence that students, despite their purported excellent results, are struggling to meet basic standards in higher education institutions.

1

President Akufo-Addo has asserted that the quality of senior high school education has not declined, despite the increased enrollment resulting from the implementation of the free senior high school (free SHS) policy. He cited statistics to support his claim, highlighting improved performance in subjects like English, mathematics, and social studies.Dr.

2

Apaak, however, has voiced his disagreement with the President's claims, pointing out that many of the students who achieved these results are failing to meet the 1.50 GPA threshold in higher education institutions. He referenced reports from Africa Education Watch to support his point.Dr.

3

Apaak further alleged that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ghana was the only country in the sub-region to conduct localized final year exams for students, allowing the government to manipulate the system to achieve positive results. He claimed that students received assistance in answering test questions, and in some cases, answers were even written on blackboards for students to copy.

4

He accused the government of influencing the performance assessments of secondary schools and even intimidating headmasters at meetings if their schools did not perform well. As a result, he argued that the system had been compromised, and students were being aided in answering questions during their final exams."Given what I have presented, we cannot use that system to measure quality when the system is highly compromised.

5

There were instances where answers were written on blackboards for students to copy," he added.Dr. Apaak challenged the President to refute these claims, noting that there is evidence of students with high grades from secondary schools struggling in university education. “So you cannot boast about stellar grades when clearly quality is not demonstrated by the competence and capacity of the students.

6

”Some tertiary institutions are reportedly considering introducing entrance examinations for applicants due to the challenges they face when admitting students with excellent grades who then struggle with basic English construction at the university level.

7

He also disclosed that the National Teaching Council had sought approval for a GH¢7 million entrance examination for teacher training college applicants to ensure that they meet the minimum competencies to be trained as teachers. This proposal had been known to the cabinet, undermining the President's claims that the quality of education has improved under his administration.

8