The Minority in Parliament has raised concerns over the exclusion of private Senior High Schools (SHS) from the Free SHS programme, urging President John Dramani Mahama and the Finance Minister-designate, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, to fulfil their campaign promise to include private schools.
Dr Gideon Boako, the Member of Parliament for Tano North, addressed a press conference on the matter, criticising the Minister-designate's dismissive attitude during his vetting on Monday, January 13.
According to Dr Boako, Dr Ato Forson appeared evasive when questioned about extending the Free SHS programme to private institutions, a policy outlined in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto. "When asked whether the programme would be extended to private schools, the Minister-designate, in a very dismissive manner, asked whether those private schools write WASSCE exams," Dr Boako recounted, adding that this response feigned ignorance of the fact that many private SHS participate in the WASSCE.
Dr Boako further reminded the Minister-designate and President Mahama of their campaign engagements with the leadership of private SHS.
