Matthew Opoku Prempeh Should shut up and fix the Challenges of the cosmetic SUSU Free SHS
Efo Worlanyo TSEKPO
The minister of Education since his Appointment has not on his own roll out a single policy or program to enhance the welfare of our hardworking teachers as well as provide quality Education for Ghanaian students.
His first assignment was to insult [ads1]teachers and called Headmasters incompetent and even threatened them with dismissal if their students don’t excel in exams without even meeting the headmasters to know their challenges and the reasons for those failures.
His second assignment was to threaten the teachers with licencing exam, where failure means automatic withdrawal of teaching profession.
His third assignment was dismissing and demoting teachers and headteachers who have issues with the SUSU Free SHS. Meaning whether the Free SHS has challenges or not the implementors should hail it. This can only happen in the animal farm.
The question is why has NAPO been so wicked and developed hatred for teachers since his appointment as the Education Minister?
Recently NAPO has the guts to insult the most respected Education Minister ever in the History of Ghana and Africa Professor Naana Opoku Agyemang, the first female vice chancellor in the History of Ghana whose turner in office as the Education Minister witnessed:
- Massive infrastructural development with over 150 new Senior High Schools established from a scratch within three, years since (one year of NDC government was spent in the supreme court) an achievement which is unprecedented worldwide to provide access to SHS education in Ghana.
- Reduction of teachers absenteeism from 27 percent to 8percent
- Free laptops, exercise books, textbooks, school uniforms to all basic schools nationwide.
- Progressively free Education for all Day students in all Senior High Schools and part payment by borders.
Scorlaship for students
- 93% of BECE students passing with distinction in 2017 which is an unprecedented record in the history of Ghana.
- Massive infrastructure development in our basic schools
- Converting of Polytechnics to Technical Universities.
- Establishing of three new universities and several nurses and teacher training colleges.
- Increased enrollment in all tertiary campuses including teachers and nurses training colleges due to massive infrastructure she provided.
- The policy of exporting our excess graduates to other countries where their services are required especially teachers and Nurses which she was about to roll out before the December Elections which saw the exit of her government.
Just to mention a few.
With all these massive achievements NAPO should have studied and consulted the learned Professor for wisdom instead of insulting her.
NAPO should concentrate on fixing the mess he has plug the education sector into since his appointment as the Education Minister.
He should concentrate on how the release funds to the Senior High Schools whose heads have threatened closure in the coming weeks.
He should concentrate on how to decongest the various Senior High Schools to prevent another school been hit by epidemic as happened recently because of the congestion.
He should concentrate on how to procure textbooks for schools since the Headmasters said only Social Studies and History Textbooks were provided since school resumed.
He should concentrate on how to salvage the horrific situations in our schools where students sleep on football fields, under trees and in classrooms in the name of free SHS.
He should concentrate on how to Pay the Training college teachers who are still on strike as well as the allowances of the teacher trainees.
NAPO should concentrate on how to provide Teaching and learning materials to our schools instead of insulting our hardworking teachers and threatening them with demotions and sacking.
*He should be of the known that Nungua Senior High has been closed due to the unsanitary conditions and well as the horrific nature of congestion in the school which nearly led to the death of some students.*
Recently over 50 students were admitted over the same overcrowded issue and at North two students were bitten by snakes when they had no choice than to sleep on the school’s football field since even the classrooms used as dormitories after teaching hours are always fully occupied at night.
These are issues NAPO and his team should concentrate on to find remedies to instead of insulting the learned professor on issues he doesn’t even understand as a minister.
NAPO thinks he is above advice and criticism that’s why he even insulted another professor from Cape Coast University earlier this year when he also made input into the sustainability of the Free SHS.
There is an old adage in Ewe which says BIG NOSE does not guarantee wisdom
My advice to my good brother Matthew the medical doctor who doesn’t know anything about ”Education” to seek for wisdom instead of insulting and suppressing those who are in the position to help him continue from the huge legacy left by Professor Naana Opoku Agyemang.
Today in Nana Addo’s Ghana, Headmasters and teachers are afraid to speak out their frustrations because of the autocratic nature of NAPO and his team whose agenda is to sack anyone who criticises the Free SHS program.
He should note that creditors are on the neck of the headmasters, Students are sleeping in badges, some are sleeping on football fields and are bitten by snakes, teachers are crying for TLMs that is where his energy should be directed to instead of going on insulting carnival.
The entire governance of the NPP is like sinking the ship on the high sea as describe by MO Ibrahim Foundation just yesterday.
That’s why the NDC need to put its house in order for victory 2020 to rescue the sinking ship from the hands of the Elephants.
Victory 2020 is possible but it’s just a matter of time.
#PossibleTOGETHER
Efo Worlanyo TSEKPO
B/A Regional Youth Organizer Aspirant.
0247046008