Implement compulsory bit of FCUBE - Youth forum to government
Participants at a youth forum in Elmina has asked government to ensure the implementation of the compulsory aspect of the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) programme.
They called for the setting up of an agency to ensure all children of school going age were in school.
They noted that while systematic efforts were being put in place to ensure basic education was free, the compulsory bit of the FCUBE programme had not been pursued with zest.
At a youth parliamentary section for youth in the Central region to mark International Youth day, the participants said all children must be compelled to be in school.
The regional youth parliament is made of up selected youth from advocacy groups in the various constituencies of the region.
The programme, which was on the theme: “The role of the youth in contributing to quality education in Ghana” was organized by the Central regional directorate of the National Youth Authority (NYA) to allow the youth a voice on issues affecting the nation’s educational system.
Making his submission, Mr Nathaniel Akyeampong of Possibility Transnational in the Effutu Constituency, said the benefits of education could not be overestimated, saying it was in the nation’s interest that it pursued an agenda to ensure all children were in school.
“Government must make efforts to ensure the compulsory aspect of the FCUBE and get all children to school,” he stated.
They also called for a non-partisan assessment of the Free Senior High School programme to fine tune it and to make it more beneficial.
Mr Fidel Osei Agyemang of the Nkrumahist Cirlce group from the Awutu Senya East said it was important for youth to stay nationalistic and not to allow themselves to be “puppetted” by politicians.
This, he said, would allow them to make fair and effective inputs to national development discourse devoid of partisan coloration.
Mr Prince Aidoo Mensah of Poimen Ghana from the Assin Central constituency said the budget allocation for the free SHS programme was too high and called for attention for the basic level education too.
He further urged government to give attention to Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) saying they were needed to help build the nation and accelerate development.
The Central Regional Director of the NYA, Mr Emmanuel Amartey the objective of the programme was to empower the youth and to expose them to healthy political interactions as they prepare to take up leadership.
“It is important that we expose the youth to politics the right way. Get them to understand the importance of healthy discourse devoid of acrimony as they prepare to take up leadership positions whether now or in the future,” he added.