Deputy Education Minister, Rev John Ntim Fordjour has justified governmernt's decision to procure past questions for Senior High School students.
Speaking on the Super Morning Show, Friday, he stated that buying past questions has been the practice in other jurisdictions since students started writing exams.
"Anytime students sit for SAT, the LSAT, International Bachelorette, Cambridge exam, the institutions make available questions on their websites and parents print them out so that in the revision period, their wards can have access to that."
He notes that this time government has made the process flexible and accessible for all students at the SHS level including those whose parents cannot afford to purchase the book due to financial constraints.
His comment follows the procurement of past questions for final year SHS students in 2019.
The government has been accused of inflating the prices of the textbooks but in a reaction, Rev. Fordjour challenged the claim.
He insisted that the books were procured in 2019 at Gh₵71.25 (per unit cost) contrary to the Gh₵59.00 cost stated by the Minority in Parliament. That notwithstanding there has been a "reasonable" increase of 9.4% (due to factors such as inflation) which in turn has increased the cost of the book to Gh₵78.00.
"There's no way you can go anywhere on the market to get this book at a cost less than Gh₵200 but we have put together all four core subjects in addition to the Chief Examiners report, in a 457 paged document at a cost of Gh₵71.25 per student," he said.
He further clarified that a total of 361,765 books were procured for Senior High School students in 2019, in contrast with an initial 536,000 figure presented in Parliament as the total number of books procured. He explained that the initial figure was an error which is being rectified.
Again, the Deputy Education Minister said the total cost for the procurement was Gh₵ 25.77million.
Latest Stories
-
Akesse Brempong to hold ‘Davidic’ concert on April 21
3 mins -
Here’s why Dr. Steve Manteaw supports Otumfuo’s call for ECG, GRIDCo divestiture
18 mins -
Ejisu by-election: Former NPP MP files nomination to contest as independent candidate
42 mins -
Aklerh out with ‘Dancehall Queen’ EP
46 mins -
Burna Boy makes Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People
47 mins -
National Peace Council cautions clergy against spiteful comments ahead of December 7 polls
48 mins -
My wife sent nudes to her Dubai lover when I was battling kidney disease – Erico
1 hour -
Kudus urges West Ham to eye Ghanaian youngster Emmanuel Danso
1 hour -
Don’t be cowed into silence, defend Ghana’s democracy – Sam Jonah tells journalists
1 hour -
QNET triumphs at PR Awards 2024 with 3 prestigious wins
1 hour -
Dubai Airport slowly re-opening as UAE rainfall persists
1 hour -
Dumsor: Kumasi demonstrators demand immediate release of load-shedding timetable
1 hour -
Transport operators frustrated by long wait to hike fares
1 hour -
MTN FA Cup: Dreams FC’s quarterfinal game against Soccer Intellectuals set for May 1
2 hours -
Enimil Ashon: Season of promises and scholarship for the greedy
2 hours