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150 000 boarding Senior High School students from deprived backgrounds will from next academic year benefit from the progressively free secondary education policy rolled out by the Mahama Administration. A total of 60 million cedis has already been allocated in the 2016 budget for implementation.

The policy which is currently benefiting day students will also be expanded from ten (10) recurrent fee items to twelve (12) next academic year. So far over 320,000 day students are beneficiaries.

This was disclosed by President John Mahama when he commissioned another Community Day Senior High School at Derma in the Tano South District of the Brong Ahafo Region.

The President also noted that over 3.6 million textbooks covering core subjects, Maths, English, Social Studies and Integrated Science are being published for distribution to students. Besides, about 137,216 teachers guide will also be available to enhance their work.

Mr Mahama spoke extensively about the opportunities being created by the schools expansion project announced another Community Day SHS would be commissioned at Abease in the Pru District of the Brong Ahafo Region on Wednesday. Giving statistics about access he said of the 111 secondary schools in the region, 47 are private and 64 are public schools with total enrollment of about 80,000. He however said available statistics indicate about 90,000 potential students are not in SHS for lack of access.

He hoped the new community day SHS and the expansion projects in existing senior high schools will create opportunities for them.

The Derma Community Day SHS with an enrollment of 243 replaces a dilapidated six-unit block. The new facility therefore can accommodate over 1,200 more students from Derma and neighbouring communities.

The President commended the Chief of Derma and other progressive traditional leaders for allocating land for the project. He said the 40 acre land donated by the Dermahene gives room for additional facilities which will include an administration block, accommodation and other offices.

The President is expected to commission another completed Community Day Senior High School at Abease in the Pru District.

The “Accounting to the People Tour” has taken the President to the Western, Eastern and Volta Regions already. While in Brong Ahafo, the President will visit Techimentia within the same District to commission a Polyclinic, and also pay a courtesy call on Nana Dadiesoabahene.

On Wednesday the President is expected to make whistle stops at the Techiman, Brekum and Sunyani markets where he will interact with traders and drivers. He will also pay a courtesy call on the Nkoranzahene and later inspect the ongoing Kyeremaasu-Gambia No.2 road.