A Development Economist and Senior Lecturer at the University for Development Studies( UDS) Dr Michael Ayamga-Adongo, who has come under intense criticism by a section of Ghanaians for describing the implementation of the Free Senior High School( SHS) programme as a ” systematic destruction” of Ghanaian children, has hit back at his critics, insisting that he wrote the truth “for kids who will not have any chance for a do-over once this failing experiment [ the free SHS ] kicks in.”
Dr Ayamga-Adongo had argued that the implementation of the free SHS programme that resulted in the introduction of the double track system so as to manage the huge numbers was leading to the production of “schooled illiterates” who will be unable to compete with kids of the people implementing the programme given that they have their children in “dollar-denominated schools” that offer high quality education.
But while some Ghanaians supported his argument, others strongly disagreed with him, with some even questioning his credentials as Ph.D holder and a Senior Lecturer and alleging that he is a surrogate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
In a social media post on Sunday December 29, 2019, however, Dr Ayamga-Adongo insisted that he is merely being a citizen and not a spectator speaking truth to power for the sake of the future of the Ghanaian children under the Free SHS programme, adding that he did not insult anyone.
Dr Ayamga-Adongo also seemed to suggest that he is being unduly monitored at the University for Development Studies over his critical comments on the flagship SHS programme.
“I am a citizen not a spectator. I speak for the kids who will not have any chance for a do-over once the effect of this failing experiment kicks in. University professors insulted a sitting president. People didn’t start asking about them in their Universities. I didn’t insult anyone. I wrote truth, I stated facts. That is what citizens do,” he wrote in reaction on Facebook.
Dr Ayamga-Adongo is a Development Economist with many years of experience as a lecturer and researcher. He has spent his academic life mainly at the University for Development Studies.
Dr Ayamga-Adongo had argued that the implementation of the free SHS programme that resulted in the introduction of the double track system so as to manage the huge numbers was leading to the production of “schooled illiterates” who will be unable to compete with kids of the people implementing the programme given that they have their children in “dollar-denominated schools” that offer high quality education.
But while some Ghanaians supported his argument, others strongly disagreed with him, with some even questioning his credentials as Ph.D holder and a Senior Lecturer and alleging that he is a surrogate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
In a social media post on Sunday December 29, 2019, however, Dr Ayamga-Adongo insisted that he is merely being a citizen and not a spectator speaking truth to power for the sake of the future of the Ghanaian children under the Free SHS programme, adding that he did not insult anyone.
Dr Ayamga-Adongo also seemed to suggest that he is being unduly monitored at the University for Development Studies over his critical comments on the flagship SHS programme.
“I am a citizen not a spectator. I speak for the kids who will not have any chance for a do-over once the effect of this failing experiment kicks in. University professors insulted a sitting president. People didn’t start asking about them in their Universities. I didn’t insult anyone. I wrote truth, I stated facts. That is what citizens do,” he wrote in reaction on Facebook.
Dr Ayamga-Adongo is a Development Economist with many years of experience as a lecturer and researcher. He has spent his academic life mainly at the University for Development Studies.