The Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education is to be extended from the current primary school level to cover Junior Secondary Schools. This will begin in September this year when the new educational reforms become operational. President J.A Kufuor announced this on Monday when he opened the third Regional Conference on Secondary Education and Training in Africa in Accra. More than 30 education ministers from across the continent are discussing with policy makers, ways of finding realistic and strategic solutions to a sustainable expansion of post primary education and training. President Kufuor said the government is unable to extend the FCUBE facility to the Senior Secondary School due to financial constraints. However, he said District Assemblies are being encouraged to partner support by providing bursaries to deserving students. Giving details of the new educational policy, the President said it would comprise two distinct sections- Junior High School and Senior High School. The Junior High School, he said will be of three years duration and emphasis will be laid on general education where students will be exposed to a wide range of subjects and skills to move into a diversified system of Senior High School which will offer training options in vocational, technical, agricultural and general education. He said Senior High School will be four years and will offer opportunities for students to receive further pre-tertiary instructions or skills training. He said the new structure and content of the Senior High School should adequately prepare students to pursue university, polytechnic, vocational, teacher training and other forms of tertiary education. Source: The Ghanaian Times