The Minority in parliament has accused the Mahama-led government of destroying the country’s education sector.
According to the opposition group, government has not shown commitment particularly in the release statutory funds for the sector.
[contextly_sidebar id=”gLiqwbgS2ee1OnJwWkDJ6qbkLVOxIfxv”]Minority spokesperson for Education, Professor Dominic Fobih, who addressed a news conference on Tuesday, lamented about government’s constant delays in paying grants and subventions to schools adding this has further worsened challenges facing the sector.
“Senior High School students’ subsidy for feeding are always in arrears for months and heads of public senior high schools often have to threaten to close down schools before portions of arrears are released to them. A meeting by CHASS, the Conference of Heads of Assisted Senior High Schools currently ongoing in Tamale testifies to the point we are making. Subsidy allocation of Ghc8.7 million which is about 38% out of Ghc22.7 million for senior high school students in 201/2011 academic year was not released”.
“In 2010 and 2011, Government budgeted Ghc35.5 million and Ghc36 million for capitation grant and subsidy for basic education examination respectively, but just Ghc28.7 million and Ghc21.6 million representing a shortfall of 19.2% and 40% respectively. Heads of public senior high schools often had to resort to crisis management or contain agitations either by students over poor quality food or distressed teachers who themselves had to look elsewhere to circumvent their income all of which turn to lower the morale of both teachers and students and hence negatively impacts on the quality of education”.
According to professor Fobih, basic education in particular is at its lowest level because it has been stifled of funds.
“Teachers’ pension supplements and transfer grants are in default. This practice de-motivates them to discharge their services with the necessary commitment. Capitation grant for basic schools are in arrears for one academic year. Against the background of a weak management system, low morale and long periods of non-release of statutory funds, the education sector especially the public education sector, is gradually grinding to its lowest ebb and public confidence in the basic school system is tilted in favour of private schools” Professor Fobih lamented.
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By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana