The Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) has expressed concern about what it describes as the “over-politicization” of the nation’s education system.
Speaking at press conference, the GNAPS Ashanti Regional Chairman, Mr. Michael Appiah said people must act together to stop politicians from toying with the country’s education systems.
Mr. Appiah also criticized frequent policy changes merely for reasons of parochial political interest and advantage, and noted that from toying with the country’s education this had only succeeded in lowering standards.
He called on Ghanaians to demand a comprehensive national educational policy to save the nation’s ailing education.
“Quality or Quantity Education, Which Way Ghana” is the theme for the week-long event.
Mr Appiah said he particularly found it quite disturbing “the political games” being played with the duration and accessibility of senior high school (SHS) education.
He said instead of addressing the core challenges – inadequate funding, lack of equipment, infrastructure and abject poverty among parents, the focus had rather been on course duration and empty promises.
The GNAPS Regional Chairman therefore suggested that instead of spending scarce resources to build new SHS, the state should provide support to the privately operated ones to expand their infrastructure and facilities to admit more students.
He underlined the need to assist private schools with tax reliefs, soft loans to buy buses and equipment and other incentives to enable them expand.
Mr Appiah also called for another look at the Computer Selection and Placement System to make sure that candidates were placed in private schools.
He warned that if things were not rightly done some private SHS could collapse because of the lack of students.
Source: GNA