Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) John Dramani Mahama has promised to include private secondary schools in the free SHS programme if elected President in the December 7 polls.

According Mr Mahama, many private schools have the necessary infrastructure and human resources to support the programme. 

He indicated that his goal is to invest heavily in basic education from 2025 to ensure a strong foundation for the education sector and address the burden still shared by parents and the government at the secondary education level.

Mr Mahama said he believes every child in Ghana deserves access to quality education and, therefore, he is committed to working towards that goal. 

“Let’s build a brighter future for our children in the Ghana we want together,” he stated.

Mr Mahama said these when he spoke at the launch of the 2024 annual week celebration of the Ghana National Association of Private Schools, where he highlighted the importance of private schools in providing quality education for Ghanaian children. 

The former President emphasised that private schools are crucial partners with the government in the education sector, as they have been trailblazers and pacesetters in introducing new teaching techniques and procedures into the system. 

“As the flag bearer of the NDC, I want to assure the association of private schools that an NDC government will prioritise education and work closely with all stakeholders to review the entire education structure from the basic to the tertiary level.” 

“They have also been effective in handling special children due to their teacher-to-pupil ratio,” he added.