Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the educational sector are calling on the government to prioritize basic education in the country.
They emphasize that the current state of basic education is in crisis, with numerous challenges affecting its effectiveness and since basic education serves as a fundamental pillar of our educational system, and urgent attention is needed to address the issues it faces.
A recent survey conducted by CSOs in the educational sector reveals concerning findings about the state of basic education in the country.
The survey shows that out of 5,400 schools that are currently operating under trees, sheds, and dilapidated structures, only 17 have been completed within the past three years under the current administration.
This lack of progress in addressing the infrastructure challenges in basic schools is a significant factor contributing to the deterioration of the sector. At the current rate, it would take an estimated 300 years to achieve the desired targets for education in the country.
Dr. Ernestina Tetteh, the Project Manager at StarrGhana, has highlighted the detrimental effects of politically influenced teacher deployment.
She emphasized that such practices have negative implications for effective teacher management and the equitable distribution of teachers, particularly in districts where Members of Parliament (MPs) do not belong to the ruling government.
This politicized deployment of teachers can lead to imbalances in teacher allocation and hinder the goal of ensuring equal access to quality education across all regions and constituencies.
Dr. Ernestina Tetteh further emphasized the need for the government to allocate a higher percentage of the total national budget to education.
She recommended an increase from the current 12 percent to at least 15 percent and to achieve this, she suggested utilizing the supplementary budget window and prioritizing the disbursement of allocated discretionary education funds.
According to her, by ensuring a higher budget execution rate, reaching at least 100 percent by the end of the current financial year, the government can demonstrate its commitment to prioritizing education and provide the necessary resources for the sector’s development.
