‘What advice?’ – Haruna Iddrisu questions Adutwum’s offer to help
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has dismissed suggestions that he should seek guidance from former Education Minister Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum on addressing challenges in Ghana’s education sector, questioning what useful lessons he could draw from his predecessor’s tenure.
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has expressed skepticism about the advice he could seek from his predecessor, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, regarding Ghana's education challenges. The Mahama administration, Iddrisu argued, inherited a system plagued by significant issues. Dr Adutwum, a former Education Minister and a close friend of Iddrisu, had previously offered his assistance to the new Education Minister, emphasizing their longstanding friendship and willingness to support him in managing the education system.
However, Iddrisu questioned the relevance of such advice, stating that the current administration inherited an education sector with infrastructure deficits, food shortages under the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme, and the ongoing burden of the double-track system. In an interview with TV3, Iddrisu posed the question, "What advice?" when referring to Adutwum's offer.
He further queried whether Adutwum could provide valuable guidance on ending the double-track system, which he believed was introduced under the previous administration as a response to increased enrolment due to the Free SHS. Iddrisu questioned the wisdom of seeking advice on a system he had himself helped create, highlighting the complexities and consequences of the double-track system on the quality of education.
Additionally, the Education Minister highlighted challenges with feeding programs in some senior high schools during the previous administration, which had led to temporary disruptions in academic activities. Iddrisu also acknowledged the positive impact of President John Dramani Mahama's decision to uncap the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and allocate funding towards student feeding, which improved the provision of food in schools.
These remarks come as there is a broader discussion regarding the state of Ghana's education sector and the measures being taken by the current administration to tackle the challenges inherited from the previous government.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
