Professor Stephen Adei, an educationist and economist has said no government should ever consider making tertiary education free in the country.
Speaking with Nana Yaa Mensah on Sunday Night, he said, “When it comes to secondary school and below in this modern world it is a necessary condition for anyone to participate in a modern society and, therefore, I support the free education at that level.”
In the run-up to the 2020 elections, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) promised to pay the fees of all tertiary students for the 2020/2021 academic year if elected in the 7 December elections.
The national chairman of the NDC, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, in a statement on Tuesday (1 December) said: “The National Democratic Congress (NDC), announces that it has accepted for incorporation in the People’s Manifesto, the recommendation of the Education Policy Group of the party that the next NDC government absorbs the full school fees of Ghanaian students who will be admitted to tertiary institutions in the 2020/2021 academic year.”
The policy, according to the NDC, is an enhancement of “our commitment in the People’s Manifesto to absorb 50% of the school fees of all tertiary students for the 2020/2021 academic year through the ‘KYEMUPE’ policy, which will now apply to only continuing students in tertiary institutions in the country”.
The statement added: “The flagbearer of the party, H E John Dramani Mahama, will in due course throw more light on this enhanced package for Ghanaian students who will be admitted to tertiary institutions next year, dubbed ‘FA NINYINAA’.”
But Prof Adei said politicians have the tendency of promising things but “nobody should think about making tertiary education free because if we do that you can’t pay teachers [all the money will go into tuition fees] but we need to share the education.
“…At the higher level, the government looks at manpower needs and the government gives scholarships…”
Watch the full interview below:
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