Government not against free SHS education – Minister

Mr Alexander Asum-Ahensah, the Minister of Chieftaincy Affairs, has said the government was not against free senior high school (SHS) education.

He said free SHS education would not be possible now taking into consideration the lack of adequate infrastructure in SHSs.

Mr Asum-Ahensah said this when he presented a 19-seater bus and 10 computers and accessories to the Suma Senior High School in the Jaman North District.

He said the presentation was in fulfillment of a promise President John Dramani Mahama made when he visited the area last year.

Addressing the students and staff of the school, he said in many of the SHSs especially those in the deprived areas, there were lack of classroom blocks, science laboratories and computer laboratories as well as accommodation for boarding students.

He said this was why the government was poised to ensuring that infrastructure in schools was improved including accommodation for teachers.

Mr. Moses Kofi Soga, Headmaster of the school, said the school was established in 1981 with few students but now has 548 students.

He said construction works on the three-storey GETFund project had stopped and appealed to the Minister to intervene and that the school was in need of an assembly hall, boys’ hostel and a kitchen.

Mr. Desmond Tutu, Assemblyman for the area, appealed to the government to raise the school to a boarding status and also called for the renovation of the old primary school block in the area.

Nana Ansu Adane Kofrobour II, Krontihene and acting President of Suma Traditional Council, commended the government for the number of projects executed in the area.

Source: GNA