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As a matter of policy, I stand for free SHS in public schools for ALL.
This is why
1. I have been in this country long enough to know that many policies intended for the poor have generally ended up benefiting a lot of the people but the poor. So claiming to target the poor is a nice and humane argument. Implementation of such policies has however usually been very different from the claims, (few exceptions probably). Find out about COCOBOD Scholarships, food supplies intended for the poor, etc. ‘Tom brown’ usually meant for the poor ends up in the homes of health workers, teachers, etc and their friends, etc. You hardly find such stuff in the homes of the very poor.
2. The very poor are usually too poor to know how to meet the criteria or access the criteria for the poor. The non poor on the other hand know how to meet the criteria for the poor, have the resources to meet this criteria and access whatever is meant for the poor. Are you unaware of our extortionist culture where more persons than not expect to receive something, or at least a ‘goat’ before delivering on some salaried job or providing some salaried service? Try accessing public services and find out for yourself. How many poor people can afford to be extorted? Truth is, we have not addressed the values of honesty, integrity and service generally. Until we do that, we need not play the ostrich or be in denial. (You know by now that I am an advocate for the right values in our democracy. But that is for another time). Please dont talk about the exceptions. Should we make general policies on exceptions?
3. Deciding on means testing requires a lot of thinking and designing on our part. I would rather we channel that energy and effort into finding the best way to provide free SHS for ALL in public schools. We have the brains to do this.
4. If there are problems with free SHS for all, it may be due to inadequate or lack of planning, logistics, etc. We should invest in how to solve these problems.
5. Finally, I believe free SHS for all in public school is doable, if government is willing to cut waste, protect the public purse, and engage with all, rather than labelling dissenters as ‘”opposition” . That stifles debate, and isn’t inspiring.
We can have free SHS for ALL in public schools if we are sufficiently committed. If on the other hand, we know we are not committed, let us not destroy our youth with any pretense of providing them a good education, when we know we are not. That would be worse than treachery.
Forgive me, I am not in charge of the public purse, so I have no way of knowing what we can commit to and what we cannot commit to. So let those we have entrusted our power to give us the reality on the ground candidly.
Then we will know the best way to handle this.
So I disagree with the Finance Minister’s view on means testing. If I may, I would say, respectfully, that Mr. Finance Minister, find the money let us provide top notch quality free SHS for ALL in public schools. And, next, let us think of effective scholarship schemes for tertiary, etc. Quality education for citizens is wealth for our nation. And if I could, I would say to the Minister for education, find workable solutions. Engage all. By all means find the solutions.
And as a citizen, I would say to our President, respectfully, that this is not one of the things to be reduced to the politics of NPP and NDC. This is time for us to engage candidly as a nation, as a people. Because this concerns our most important national resource – our children, our youth, our future as a people.
By Clara Beeri, Lawyer & Lecturer at GIMPA
