The Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, says his outfit has not closed its doors to receiving help from willing citizens and organisations seeking to support the education sector in the country.

According to him, the perception that the Akufo-Addo-led administration and the Education Ministry are reluctant to receive philanthropy, especially with regard to the Free SHS programme is false.

“There’s never a time that someone has come here and says, I’m willing to build a school, and I’ll tell the person I don’t need your help.

“So, it’s never true and really an unfair characterisation of my government that we refuse support from other people,” he told host, Bernice Abu-Baidoo Lansah in an interview on JoyNews’ AM Show on Thursday.

To illustrate his point, he cited organisations that construct school buildings to help mobilise education such as Ghana Gas and McDan, noting that have been instances where the ministry is invited to the commissioning of such projects, without the ministry necessarily determining where the schools must be constructed.

On that note, the Education Minister expressed his gratitude to other organisations and individuals that have built schools in the country.

He reiterated his statement to the general public that his ministry is always eager to welcome any offer to help improve education in the country.

 “If you want to support, team up with your church to build a school in your village, I’m ready to support you. If want me to bring you furniture, I’ll bring you furniture. If you want me to come there and help open the school… I’m willing to support that effort,” he said.

Free SHS

The Free SHS programme was a major campaign promise by then-candidate Nana Akufo-Addo in 2016.

After assuming office in 2017, President Akufo-Addo rolled out the policy and has since become an essential part of the educational system.

However, the Policy has been facing some challenges. Some of these challenges include a shortage of food at the various schools. 

This has led to a wider conversation around it with many calling for a review of the same.