In the event that his government wins back control in the 2024 election, National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his commitment to reforming Ghana’s educational system.
The flag bearer claims that the system that replaced the trimester system, which previously allowed teachers some leeway to prepare their lessons suitably for their students, has had a negative impact on the educational system by denying teachers the chance to plan their courses for the upcoming semesters.
John Mahama announced Thursday, January 25, 2024, at a town hall meeting exclusively for labor unions at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, that he would be conducting stakeholder consultation to reform the system.
It is untrue, he claims, that the vision has been characterized by some as a way to repeal the Free Senior High School policy.
“Before when we had a trimester system, the teachers used to have a break to be able to mark their papers, take a rest, write their curriculum for the next term before the children come and then they start teaching.
“Now the teachers have no break; when these ones are coming, these ones are going, now it’s ‘basaaaa’ (haphazard). You don’t know who goes where and who goes where. And so if I say teachers come, headmasters come, parents come, educational experts come, GES come, all of you come and let’s see how to resolve this problem, does that mean cancellation?“ he quizzed.
Additionally, he assuaged the teachers’ anxieties about speaking up about issues that were bothering them by promising that the upcoming NDC administration would bring about new freedom for educators to freely voice their concerns.
“And you all know these things but if you say it, they will come after you, so you are all quiet.
“So, I’m saying that one of the things this election is going to do when the NDC comes is a new independent day for teachers. You will hear the things they will say. After 7th January, the headmaster we couldn’t call to come here and speak, he will be freed, his chain would have been removed and you will hear the things they will say. For now, hold your peace, I know if you talk, they will transfer you to Bunkpurugu, Bole or somewhere,” he noted.
Teachers will have new Independence Day after 7th January – Mahama assures on the review of free SHS#3NewsGH pic.twitter.com/SYNAKyNbGe
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) January 27, 2024
