Free Tertiary Education promises of NDC, NPP lack credibility – AEW

Think tanks and stakeholders of education have in unpacking NDC, NPP Free Education Promises has stated that the Free Tertiary Education promises of the NPP and NDC lack credibility.

The two major political parties have unveiled last-minute education promises. The NDC says it will give 100% scholarship to all freshers which it termed Fa Ninyinaa literally meaning (Take all the fee /keep all the fees). It is targeted that freshmen who gain admission into tertiary institutions,  while the NPP has promised to award scholarships to Free SHS graduate who made good roads. The Scholarship portal of the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat has therefore been opened till December 15th.

Read: Scholarship Secretariat Announces Tertiary scholarships for Free SHS Graduates

GhanaEducation.Org monitored the TheBigAgenda program hosted by Nana Osei Ampofo Adjei on Adom TV in which Mr. Kofi Asare of Africa Education Watch, an education think tank asserted that the Free Education policies of the two big parties don’t pass the credibility test.

In his submission, Mr. Kofi Asare said Free SHS, for instance, meant sacrificing infrastructure facilities for schools to pay fees. He further posited that Free tertiary education promises and scholarships from the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party are mere efforts at getting votes from the electorates.

READ: You have 2 days to release postings or we protest – TTAG to GES

Dr. Lord Mensah disclosed that the two parties have understood what the electorates need going into the 2020 election

He was quick to add that all these promises are expenses that demand investments. Dr. Mensah said there is a big difference between promising and delivering, and the Financing of such free education comes at the cost to the nation and not the candidates.

READ: Scholarship portal for Free SHS Graduates Opened – Apply Now!

He furthered that government finances such as debts (loans) must be geared toward investments that add value and on projects that are of priority.

In the absence of this, the economy will be negatively affected, he added. He said the reasons behind the last-minute promises triggered by both the NDC and the NPP is due to the strong communication machinery of the two parties in collecting vital information on the ground about each other. They get information on each other and position themselves to take advantage of it.

In his final submission, he said: The two parties were competing on policies”  but if there is no finance to roll them out they end up as failed promises.

Source:GhanaEducation.Org