Hon Vincent Ekow Assafuah
Old Tafo

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for this opportunity.

Education remains the most powerful tool for national development, shaping the minds and skills of future generations. Around the world, nations celebrate various milestones in education whether it be International Day of Education, Teachers’ Day, or the commemoration of ground breaking policies that have transformed learning. These moments serve as reminders that education is not just a policy area but a fundamental pillar upon which societies build their progress.

In Ghana, our educational journey has been marked by reforms and innovations designed to ensure access, equity, and quality. Policies such as Free Senior High School Education (Free SHS) and the expansion of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education have played a transformative role, empowering the youth and securing the country’s future. It is within this context that we approach the recent decision by the Government to establish an eight-member committee to organise a National Education Forum.

Mr Speaker, the National Education Forum is not a novel concept. It has historically served as a platform for engaging policymakers, educators, civil society, and stakeholders on critical issues affecting Ghana’s educational landscape.

However, the value of such a forum is ultimately measured by the quality of its recommendations and, more importantly, the Government’s commitment to implementing policies that uplift rather than destabilise the sector. We must also be mindful of the history, purpose, and outcomes of such engagements, particularly when they are convened under an Administration whose track record in education policy has, at best, been inconsistent.

Under the previous Administration, education was not merely a subject for discussion but was a priority for transformational action. Our Government took bold, decisive steps to expand access, ensure equity, and improve quality, leading to some of the most significant educational reforms in Ghana’s history. Some key policies implemented include:

Free Senior High School (Free SHS): A Revolution in Access to Education. The Free SHS policy, implemented in 2017, broke financial barriers that had long prevented thousands of Ghanaian children from pursuing secondary education. This policy significantly increased enrollment, particularly among students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, ensuring greater access to education for many. The impact of the policy is evident in the record number of SHS graduates progressing to tertiary education, affirming its role in shaping the future of our workforce and national development.

Mr Speaker, expansion of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education: Positioning Ghana for the Future. Recognising the importance of equipping students with 21st-century skills, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Government made significant investments in STEM education. The establishment of STEM-based senior high schools, modern science laboratories, and training programmes have enhanced Ghana’s capacity to produce world-class engineers, scientists, and innovators. By prioritising STEM, the previous Government laid the foundation for a technologically driven economy, ensuring that youth of Ghana can compete on a global stage.

Mr Speaker, Ghana Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Service: Strengthening Technical and Vocational Education. The NPP Government established the Ghana TVET service to improve the management and delivery of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). Several TVET institutions were upgraded, and new centres of excellence were built to enhance hands-on training and industry relevance. This move positioned TVET as a viable alternative to traditional academic routes, equipping students with employable skills.

Mr Speaker, there was the transformation of the school infrastructure landscape. The Government launched an aggressive school infrastructure expansion program to accommodate the growing number of students under Free SHS. New classroom blocks, dormitories, and science laboratories were constructed across various senior high school

Also, there was the introduction of the National Standardised Test (NST). To track and improve learning outcomes at the basic school level, the Government introduced the National Standardised Test (NST) to assess Primary 4 and 6 pupils. This policy ensures early intervention for struggling students and provides data driven solutions for improving literacy and numeracy.

Mr Speaker, with these undeniable achievements, it is imperative that the President Mahama-led Administration provides clarity on the true intentions behind this National Education Forum. The Government must unequivocally assure the people of Ghana that this initiative is not a smokescreen for reversing or diluting these landmark policies. We will not countenance any attempt to:

Tinker with the Free SHS policy under the guise of a review, leading to cost-sharing that undermines accessibility.

Reduce investments in STEM education, which would slow Ghana’s progress in technology and innovation.

Weaken TVET reforms, reversing the strides made in equipping the youth with employable skills.

Use this committee’s report as a justification for policy reversals that serve political expediency rather than national progress.

Mr Speaker, education is not a partisan experiment; it is a national imperative. The reforms we undertook were not accidental; they were deliberate, strategic, and backed by evidence of their necessity and success. Any government that seeks to build upon these reforms must do so with a commitment to expand and improve, not regress and erode.

Mr Speaker, we, on this Side of this House, will vigilantly monitor the proceedings and outcomes of this forum. We would hold this Government accountable for any decision that threatens our future, especially the future of our students, teachers and the broader education sector. The people of Ghana will not forgive any administration that seeks to roll back policies that have lifted millions out of educational disadvantage.

With this remark, Mr Speaker, I welcome the committee and encourage them to work with transparency, foresight and a firm commitment to national progress. However, let it be known that any attempt to use this forum as a back door to undo the transformative educational policies of the NPP would be met with firm resistance.

Thank you so much, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity granted me.

Hon Abdul Kabiru Tiah Mahama
Walewale

Mr Speaker, the maker of the Statement brought to the fore the issue about education and education at the crossroads. He highlighted some of the teething issues regarding Ghana’s educational system. He also brought to our attention some of the sterling, most innovative and cutting-edge educational initiatives that were initiated by the former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. But the most important thing in that Statement to me that should engage our minds, is his comment on the flagship programme of the previous Government that is, the Free Senior High School (FSHS) Programme.

Mr Speaker, I have had the opportunity of writing some papers on education. I remember when I was reading my second degree, I wrote about gender inequalities in primary school enrolments and the factors that probably would necessitate or determine whether a person would enroll a female or a male student in school. One of the findings was the financial status of the parents. The FSHS basically took away this burden and made education accessible to every Ghanaian, irrespective of where one was born or the financial status of their parents.

I think that this Programme would have to be safeguarded. It is in tandem with the provision of Constitution of the Republic that states that education should be progressively free. Any attempt by any government to introduce any impediment to the access to education by way of parents paying, would not be in furtherance of the Constitution of the Republic of the country.

Mr Speaker, there are recent talks about parents having to pay for some part of Parent-Teachers’ Association dues. There are recent talks about engagement with institutions to ensure that education is actually being contributed to by parents. The FSHS legislation could not be passed by in the previous Parliament. This Parliament would have to pass it, ring fence funding sources for education and make sure that it is accessible for everyone.

Mr Speaker, thank you.

Hon Kingsley Nyarko
Kwadaso

Mr Speaker, you are a nice man. Thank you for the opportunity you have given to me.

My Hon Friend, Mr Vincent Ekow Assafuah has made a profound Statement and I commend him for the Statement he has made.

Mr Speaker, education is the core of societal development and progress. Between 2010 and 2020, the erstwhile National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration introduced an education strategy plan that spanned between 2010 and 2020. When the New Patriotic Party (NPP) took over, we also had a strategic plan by reviewing what the NDC had put in place because it was ending in the year 2020. We also came up with a plan that spanned the period between 2018 and 2030. Because this document is there, I was expecting the current Government to at least examine this document and see the positives, strengths, and where there are weaknesses, they can revise them so that we move forward. For me, that is how we need to proceed as a country. We do not have to reinvent the wheel.

Mr Speaker, if one looks at the document we have right now, that was overseen by Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh and Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, it is a comprehensive plan. In the year 2017, we did what we call the Education Sector Analysis based on some of these documents. We came up with gaps in those existing documents. We had some suggestions moving forward. That is why we were able to introduce the free technical education intervention. The point I am making is that, through the gaps, we realised that we needed to pursue technical education and we have done that through the free education. But as we speak, this Government is having a stakeholder engagement in the Volta Region, and the idea

Mr Speaker, please, give me just a second to conclude. The idea is to come up with a new paradigm. But, I am saying that what we have right now is enough to help this country to move forward. They cannot reinvent the wheel. They should follow the innovative interventions that the NPP Government put in place. My good Friend, Alhaji Haruna Iddrisu, whom I respect so much. Please, respect me; I am your friend I know Alhaji Haruna Iddrisu, the new Minister for Education, will do the right
Mr Speaker, my point is that I know the current Minister for Education. I know he is capable and will do right, but I would just advise him, as a very good friend, to look at the innovative interventions that we rolled out and just add on to it. That will benefit this country and our children. I thank you, Mr Speaker.