Education Minister was misrepresented on alleged Diploma for JHS leavers – Ministry

The Ministry of Education says the sector Minister’s call for the upgrade of the Junior High School Certification has been misrepresented by the media.

Reports were rife that the Minister for education, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh has announced plans to upgrade the Senior High School certificate into a National Diploma certificate which can allow graduates gain employment after completion of their programmes.

According to reports, Dr. Opoku Prempeh had intimated it was unfair for young people in the country to be forced to complete University before being eligible for employment in the country.

He noted that such an upgrade for their qualification will make the graduates more relevant and not having to necessarily obtain University education to be qualified for employment in the country.

Matthew Opoku Prempeh said a new curriculum for Junior High Schools in the country will see JHS graduates completing with National Higher Diplomas while qualified SHS graduates will be awarded with National Diplomas.

“The curriculum that will appear for the Junior High School will lead to a National Higher Diploma, [and] when you finish Senior High School, you get a National Diploma. It is not everybody who must go to the University straight, but we must prepare our kids for the world of work.”

He made the remarks at the 2019 Danquah Institute Leadership lecture under the theme: “World Class Education and Imperative for the Next Generation of Leaders.”

But the Education Ministry in a statement reacting to the Minister’s comments said the sector minister has been misrepresented and taken out of context vis a vis the comments he made.

“The minister did not state that Junior High School graduates would be awarded a Diploma. Indeed given the government’s commitment to redefining basic education to include Senior High Schools, in respect of which the Pre-Tertiary Education bill is in parliament, It’s inconceivable that the Minister will suggest that Junior High School graduates would be awarded Diplomas or any other certification to enable them seek work” a statement signed by the Communication Director of the Ministry, Ekow Vincent Assafuah said.