PPP Jabs Nana Addo…Says His Free SHS Is Elitist

The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) has taken a swipe at the free Senior High School campaign promise of the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, describing the policy as ‘elitist.’
In a statement issued yesterday and signed its National Secretary, Kofi Asamoah-Siaw, the PPP explained that the NPP flag bearer’s free SHS policy does not hold the key to addressing the problems in the country’s education sector.
“What Nana Addo has not said is that all children who pass the BECE will go to senior high school for free. What Nana Addo has not also said is that all those who fail the BECE will go to senior high school anyway for free. These omissions in Nana Addo’s free SHS policy make it elitist to say the least,” the statement noted.
According to the PPP, both Nana Akufo-Addo and the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, are running away from the constitutional provision that requires the full implementation of a free compulsory universal basic education which has been delayed for over 17 years.
The statement explained: “Whilst President Mahama is postponing the implementation of the FCUBE for another ten years, Nana Akufo-Addo has cleverly avoided the compulsory aspect of free education at the basic level.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the 1992 Constitution did not make this policy conditional on the availability of resources; it is as mandatory as the conduct of presidential and parliamentary elections every four years.
Our presidential candidate cannot pick and choose when to implement which policies when the 1992 Constitution is emphatic on what education policy the Republic of Ghana must implement.”
“The PPP will implement the Free Compulsory, Continuous Quality Education from KG to SHS. We believe that for real transformation to take place, every Ghanaian must have a minimum of senior high school education. To this end, we will deploy an “Education Police” to enforce our compulsory aspect and aggressively expand access for all Ghanaians to have access to quality education.
The only legitimate obstacle to the full implementation of the above policy is the lack of competent and incorruptible leadership. The PPP and Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom will make that possible.
We call on Ghanaians to reject mediocrity, empty promises and propaganda and vote for the PPP in the December 2012 elections.
“A Vote for PPP is a vote for Incorruptible Leadership, Education, Healthcare and JOBS! Our Agenda for Change is Built on these Four Pillars. We are the only party with the incorruptible, competent team necessary to deliver Incorruptible Leadership, improved Education and Healthcare, and thousands of JOBS desperately needed by our youth,” the statement said.
Source: Todaygh.com