A visit to some of the senior high schools as part of the monitoring of proceedings in the newly introduced programme, saw most of the parents beaming with smiles as they went through the registration process smoothly.

The visit took the District Chief Executive and his team to Antoa Senior High Secondary School where a total of 547 students have been enrolled as at the third day of registration.

Authorities at the school said they have not encountered any challenge with the process aside the slow pace of the internet. They were also worried that the school has been given a number of students in an excess of what they requested. They therefore insisted that they have not charged any amount of money from any parent with regard to the admission.

The parents said they have not encountered much challenge with the process though they have not yet completed the registration fully. However, most of the parents complained that their wards have been admitted alright but the schools are insisting that their boarding facilities are full so they will have to opt as day students.  This they said will also be at a cost to them with regards to transportation.

They also confirmed that they have not been charged any amount of money from the school authorities and do not expect any amount of money to be charged.

For his part, the District Chief Executive, Nana Osei Assibey Bonsu appealed to the parents to be patient with the teachers and authorities of the schools.  He added that since it is a new policy, there are bound to be challenges in it.  He was however optimistic that as they continue to go through, they will be able to surmount the challenges soon.

He therefore applauded the teachers for their efforts and dedication in ensuring that the policy becomes a success.

In a related development, cross sections of parents and guardians in an interview with the Department have expressed satisfaction about the policy.

In an interview with some of the parents and guardians, they said the policy undoubtedly, is one of the best to have been introduced in the educational sector in recent times. They said the policy will go a long way to help the less endowed in society especially those who are brilliant but needy students to further their education to at least the Senior High level.

Others also said they will save the money to cater for their children for the future.  They said they will now save their monies to cater for their children even to the tertiary level.

However, just a few people were concerned about the sustainability of the policy.  They said the amount of money involved in the programme for this year alone is too huge and wondered if it can be sustained for years to come. They said, government should however make it a national policy so that successive governments will continue with it irrespective of the government in power.

Some called on the government to come clear on how the government will be able to sustain it in future when the oil proceeds have run out.