13th January 2022
Ghana’ s education system has seen a lot of changes under Nana Addo Government. Unfortunately, most of the changes have been described by education watchers as retrogressive. The few once which have been described as positive the free SHS were poorly implememted.
Below are a list of policies which were poorly implememted and can have negative long term effect on the nation.
1. For two straight years, text books have not been printed and supplied to basic schools.
2. Capitation grants have been in arrears of four traches.
3. This government is unable to release something as basic as a calendar for this academic year. Apparently, drawing up the academic calendar has become rocket science requiring the setting up of additional committees.
4. 44, 000 teachers representing 15% of teachers have abandoned the classroom due to poor conditions of service. This is the highest in 20 years.
5. At the second cycle level, CHASS has issued an ultimatum for several months’ arrears in funding to be released for the running of the much vaunted Free SHS, lest they would not be in a position to reopen secondary schools. This chronic lack of funding has been responsible for the erratic academic calendar in the last few years which has been very frustrating for parents and students.
6. At the Tertiary level, students are unable to find or afford accommodation in universities compelling some of them to defer courses.
7. University lecturers are on industrial action due to government’ s failure to meet their wage demands.
8. In 2021, College of Education students spent just a quarter of the time they needed to spend in school because of non- release of funds to run the schools.
9. Teacher and nursing trainee allowances have been in arrears for several months. There is now talk of replacing it with student loans- the same proposal that Bawumia shouted himself hoarse and harangued the Mahama administration for, in opposition.
10. Even those who managed to complete school and found themselves on Nabco are owed several months’ arrears and endured a very bitter Christmas.
The Government has to critically look at these challenges and put in place measures to address them before they collapse the education system.
Meanwhile President Akufo Addo is boasting that he has spent more in the sector than any government in the 4th republic.
CitizenOne
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