I’ll never abolish free SHS because it’s good - Mahama

Former President John Dramani Mahama has denied claims he promised to abolish government flagship programme, the free Senior High School (SHS) policy when he is voted back to power, MyNewsGh.com reports.

He stated that his concern was that the policy was bedevilled with challenges and on assumption of power he will ensure that those challenges including the double-track system are addressed to make it more effective for all students to attend school at the same time.

“Free SHS is good…we have to make arrangements in such a way that because of free SHS we cannot the other projects. I have never said anywhere I will abolish free SHS and it is never my thought to cancel free SHS”, he stated

Addressing party faithful as part of his 5-day tour in the in Ellembelle District of Western Region covered by MyNewsGh.com, Mr Mahama, he said some persons are misquoting his statement made at the Trade Fair Centre in Accra when he addressed the media after filing his nomination to contest as flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

“Anyone who says I promised to abolish free SHS is lying…I have never said that anywhere what I promised was abolishing the double-system traffic light”, he stressed.

According to him, he has a different way of implementing the policy but the current administration was insisting to operationalize the free SHS at a go than taking it step-by-step as was being done under his administration.

This he noted has resulted in the lack of books, teachers, furniture, adequate classrooms and other inadequacies in the Senior High School level, hampering effective teaching and learning.