NDC’s Asaga Outlines Comprehensive Policies to Revamp Education Sector
Ms Cecilia Asaga, a National Executive Committee (NEC) member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and a seasoned educationalist, has unveiled a suite of transformative policies aimed at revitalizing Ghana’s education system.
These policies, she said, are critical to ensuring equitable access to quality education and addressing long-standing challenges in the sector.
Ms Asaga described the proposed Bright Beginnings Initiative as a cornerstone of the NDC’s education agenda, focusing on early childhood education.
“This initiative will revive early childhood education, ensuring the holistic well-being of Ghanaian children and facilitating their seamless integration into continuous schooling and lifelong learning,” she stated.
Addressing infrastructure gaps, she highlighted the Furniture for All Initiative, which will partner with the local carpentry and furniture industry to tackle the acute shortage of desks and furniture at the basic school level.
This, she said, would not only resolve immediate needs but also boost local economies.
The NDC, according to Ms Asaga, is committed to an aggressive infrastructure drive to eliminate schools under trees and rehabilitate dilapidated school buildings.
“We will ensure every Ghanaian child learns in a conducive environment,” she emphasized.
On resource provision, she stressed the importance of improving the pupil-to-textbook ratio by ensuring comprehensive distribution of curriculum-based textbooks.
Furthermore, the NDC plans to continue its policy of providing free laptops and tablets for students while equipping science resource centers in all schools to bolster Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) education.
Ms Asaga pledged to enhance the Free SHS programme by introducing a sustainable funding source and decentralizing the procurement of food for Senior High Schools to empower local economies.
She reiterated the NDC’s commitment to abolishing the double-track system and restoring a stable one-track academic calendar.
“The NDC will embark on an emergency infrastructure drive to complete abandoned E-blocks and expand facilities in existing SHS and TVET institutions, ensuring access to quality secondary education for all,” she said.
Ms Asaga also announced plans to establish regional TVET Centres of Excellence with state-of-the-art facilities to foster innovation and simulate natural work environments.
She highlighted the promotion of the Prior Learning Certification/Step-Up Certification (SEC) programme, which will validate the skills of artisans in the informal sector, enhancing their academic and career progression opportunities.
At the tertiary level, she affirmed the NDC’s resolve to implement a No-Academic-Fee Policy for first-year students in all public institutions, including universities, colleges of education, and nursing training colleges. Continuing students will benefit from reintroduced and improved Student Loan Trust Fund Plus initiatives and reformed scholarship schemes.
Ms Asaga concluded by emphasizing the NDC’s plan to review the Computerized School Selection & Placement System (CSSPS) to ensure merit-based placements and eradicate corruption.
“Education is the backbone of national development, and these policies will create a robust, inclusive, and forward-looking system,” she remarked.
She called on Ghanaians to support the NDC in the upcoming elections, stressing that their leadership would bring about transformative change in the education sector.
