A former Education Minister under the Rawlings regime, Dr. Spio Garbrah mocked the government’s much touted “Free SHS policy” arguing that it is not achievable.
“There can never be free education because parents must have some responsibility for their children’s education. Total freedom is not desirable and that explains the NDC, the NPP and the CPP past government’s inability to provide free education.”
He sarcastically admonished government to include “One student-one guinea fowl” to complete the concept if it is achievable.
Dr. Spio Garbrah was addressing the 17th Annual Delegates Congress of the University Students Association of Ghana on the theme, “Exploring alternative avenues for funding university education: the role of stakeholders,” held at the University for Development Studies Tamale City campus, Dungu.
He nonetheless proffered alternative sources for funding university education by admonishing government to plug tax loopholes and use a chunk of the revenue to fund education.
According to him, universities Internally Generated Funds alone are woefully inadequate for funding projects and thus challenged the authorities to be business oriented.
He tasked university authorities to build stadia, more conference halls and provide catering services to organizations.
He also called on university authorities to form joint ventures with the private sector through agribusiness and entreated traditional rulers to establish education endowment funds to support needy but brilliant students.
He further appreciated the role of religious bodies in the education sector and urged them to do more.
Pro Vice Chancellor of the University for Development Studies, Professor Seidu Alhassan bemoaned universities inadequate resources making it impossible for expansion of structures and students intake.
“Dwindling nature of the 60% funding from government is so worrisome and we don’t even get what we ask for in our budgets presented to government.”
“Alternative sources of revenue mobilization for university education funding is very paramount because the GETfund allocation is minimal.”
He described as a daunting task government’s request for 3.4% of universities IGF to be paid into the national kitty.
Professor Seidu Alhassan called for transparency and accountability in the process of Parliamentary approval of university fees.”
Deputy Northern Regional Minister, Solomon Boar reiterated government’s free SHS policy implementation by September.
He said government was determined to improve educational standards as means of augmenting the human resource base.
Source: Citifmonline
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KEN,OR WHOEVER, YOU CAN SPEND 30 ghana cedis just ON LUNCH SO YOU DON'T SEE THE RELEVANCE OF FREE SHS FOR THE VILLAGE GIRL WHOSE MOTHER SPENDS 5 ghana cedis ON EVENING MEAL. FREE SHS IS COMING. AND LISTEN TO SPIO! ANY WISDOM IN WHAT HE SAID?
Enemies of progress ndc is afraid of free SHS bcos it keep them in opposition for a long time if it becomes successfully that's why they are shaking
Hw3 no kwasiaa bi, everything impossible.NHIS impossible but now possible, School Feeding impossible but now possible. Eeeiiii NDC what should we do at all. This man wants to be president one day.
Ghanaians let us be real and truthful to ourselves. Is this policy the best for us?
So this one also is one of ndc presidential aspirants? Such an idi*t with no critical thinking? Why is ndc full of idi*ts like that? No wonder the founder is even not attracted to his own party,it's like all educated illiterates and fo*ls were called to join the ndc. From head to toe are fo*ls and Kwesi Botchway committee was right to advise the ndc need critical thinkers and it will take them 100 years to get one.Spio Garbrah hates anyone who he can't match and think he is better than anybody else,he is full of himself but he is nothing,his honorary Doctorate from a small college in America make him feel like he is on top of the world according g to Koku Anyidoho. Spio brags too much but he is nobody. He only fits in the ndc that's why he is there,he will lose potooo if ndc brings him.
The NPP government will add "one student, one fante kenkey" prepared from the NDC headquarters and supervised by Spio Garbrah. Yes, there might be challenges, but I believed it will be solved. If you start from class one, will you have been where you are now addressing students about the impossibility of a policy.
lets all ghanians have the 'yes we can' altitude. sir sorry u are incompitente and kruaseni and also adoe and also offue. thank u all ghanians as we beleive in someone who can take ghana forward