The running mate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, has assured Ghanaians that the next NDC government will enhance the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme rather than cancel it.

Speaking at a rally in Sekondi during her three-day campaign tour of the Western Region, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang clarified that the NDC has no intention of scrapping the Free SHS policy.

Instead, the party is committed to improving the programme by addressing the various challenges facing students, teachers, and schools.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, who served as the Minister of Education in the previous NDC government, emphasized that her party would not cancel a programme for which it had laid the groundwork by building Community Day Schools and initiating the Progressively Free SHS policy.

She urged Ghanaians to disregard anti-NDC propaganda suggesting an imminent cancellation of the Free SHS programme.

"The next NDC government will enhance the implementation of Free SHS by investing in classroom and boarding infrastructure to eliminate the double-track system, providing adequate teaching and learning materials, and ensuring a sufficient supply of food for students," she stated.

She questioned, "Are they saying we should not address the issues that brought about the double-track system in our SHS and affected the quality of teaching?

Should we not ensure our children receive better food? Should we not review the policy to provide state-of-the-art teaching and learning materials, equipment, and tools in our schools? We will address the challenges of the Free SHS policy to make it better."

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang outlined the NDC’s comprehensive plan to improve the Free SHS programme and elevate the quality of secondary education in Ghana.

She called on Ghanaians to vote for the NDC’s presidential candidate, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, to enable him to fulfil his promise of enhancing education at all levels and creating jobs for the youth through the implementation of the 24-Hour Economy policy.