ALL KINDS of accolades were bestowed on New Patriotic Party (NPP) flag bearer, Nana Akufo-Addo at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) Medical School Auditorium recently when he outlined his policy on education.
?Nana you were born to deliver the country from its bad economic state, Nana you have sacrificed for the country a lot, we know you can implement the free Senior High School (SHS) policy since you have contributed your quota towards the development of the country? were some of the statements that greeted Nana Addo?s arrival at UCC in the company of party gurus from the constituency and national level.
The nearly two hour intensive lecture on education was attended by thousands of students at the university. The auditorium was filled to capacity and many had to stand outside to listen.
Addressing the enthusiastic crowd, Nana Addo stressed the need for the country to move from a natural resource nation to an industrialized one.
?In 55 years of independence, the progress we have made in all aspects of our lives has been painfully slow. It is time to make the bold moves that will enable us make rapid progress to transform our economy and the lives of Ghanaians. A society that aims to transform itself into a modern productive player in the global market, with an educated workforce must get its educational policies right,? he said.
He indicated that the country?s educational system had been lagging behind for the past 50 years due to lack of proper policies.
?USA did the free education about 100 years ago, UK implemented their free education 70 years ago while Singapore which did not have many natural resources has been able to implement its free educational system,? he stated.
?Within six years, they had attained universal primary education and by the early 1970s they attained universal lower secondary education and they have never looked back since then. Today, Singapore is widely acknowledged as having one of the world?s leading economies and most advanced and successful education systems.?
The flag bearer noted that education was the best route to move a country out of poverty and that he would do everything possible to ensure the country benefited from free SHS education.
He promised his government?s commitment to complete some abandoned projects initiated by the Kufour administration at UCC adding that plans were underway to construct about 350 classroom blocks to accommodate students who would benefit from the free SHS when given the nod in the upcoming elections.
After the lecturer Nana visited Elmina, Abura Dunkwa, Assin Fosu and Abura where mini rallies were held to canvass votes for the NPP.
From: Sarah Owusu-Darlington, Cape Coast
