The Minister for Communications, Hon Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has charged pioneers of the free Senior High school policy to make Government proud for introducing the Policy. She urged the first year students to stay focused by taking their studies seriously and listen to their teachers in order to come out successfully. The Minister said this when she paid a working visit to some Senior High Schools in the Ablekuma West Constituency where she doubles as the Member of Parliament for the area. The Communications Minister went on the directive of the President of the Republic to assess the challenges of the policy for finetunining if need be.
The first point of call was the Wesley Grammar Senior High School where she interacted with teachers and students of the school to have first-hand information about their challenges as well as their successes with regards to the free SHS Policy. The major challenge confronting the schools is inadequate supply of furniture and therefore appealed to the Minister to come to their aid. She went on to the St Margaret Mary Senior High Technical School, Ebenezer Senior High School and St Mary's Senior High School. The expansion of their facilities was their major challenge especially with boarding facilities. The Assistant Head Mistress in charge of Administration at St Margaret Mary Senior High School, Mrs Grace Warisa appealed to Government to assist in putting up boarding facilities in the school since they have enough land available at their premises for that purpose. She stressed that most of the students live far from the school hence the need for boarding facilities.
The Minister assured the leadership of the schools about the President's commitment to protect their interests and therefore asked them to do what they have to do to deliver on their mandate. Mrs. Owusu- Ekuful made a detour to the Okpoti cluster of schools in Dansoman to Commission a newly built Canteen for the students. She was however satisfied with the implementation of the free SHS Policy and promised to make regular follow up visits. She added that she will work closely with the Minister of Education to address all their challenges.