Matthew Opoku Prempeh has said that the educational system in Ghana, particularly before the introduction of the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) program, had significant shortcomings when it came to contact hours-an essential factor in student success.
According to NAPO, the previous structure of the system, which operated under a three-term system, meant that students were receiving fewer contact hours compared to those following the semester system, a situation that directly impacted their academic outcomes.
Speaking in an interview with Channel One's Umaru Sanda, NAPO discussed the impact of the system on student performance, noting that prior to Free SHS, the nine-term, three-year program was inherently flawed. "Before Free SHS, I kept telling you that the SSS program was a nine-term program, but it didn't reflect in the actual contact hours for the students," he said.
NAPO elaborated that, in the past, final-year students often started their external exams as early as February, which meant that they missed out on two full terms of classroom interaction. "This reduction in contact hours directly impacted their preparation and overall performance," he explained.
