In fulfillment of its promise to make basic education free and accessible to all, government has announced plans to increase capitation grant from GHC 9.00 to GHC 10.00 in 2018.<\/p>\n
The previous NPP government, led by former President John Agyekum Kufour, reinforced free basic education through the disbursement of capitation grants, with an initial amount of GHC 3.00 per pupil per academic year.<\/p>\n
[contextly_sidebar id=”Y2HA930jgCMENHNIAkTimHhvj4fixmKa”]The amount was slightly increased to GHC 4.50 by the NDC government in 2009.<\/p>\n
In light of what the current government called high cost of living in its maiden budget in March 2017, government\u00a0 increased the capitation grant by 100 percent from GHC 4.50 per capita to GHC 9.00, and now the latest increase of Ghc10.00.<\/p>\n
Gov\u2019t absorbs 70 percent of 2017 BECE registration fees<\/strong><\/p>\n Presenting the 2018 Budget before lawmakers on Wednesday, November 15, the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta, also indicated that, government had absorbed 70 percent of the 2017 BECE registration fees as subsidies for all registered candidates in public Junior High Schools.<\/p>\n \u201cIn 2018, government will absorb 100 percent BECE registration fees for registered candidates from only public Junior High Schools.\u201d<\/p>\n BSTEM programme<\/strong><\/p>\n In a bid to strengthen the foundational skills and generate interest in mathematics, science and technology, government intends introducing the Basic Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (BSTEM) programme in all basic schools.<\/p>\n The programme will involve the delivery of BSTEM, and the establishment of 10 Regional BSTEM centers.<\/p>\n Free SHS programme\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Giving updates on the free SHS programme, the Minister revealed that, government had so far absorbed “all fees” approved by GES Council for 353,053 first year students.<\/p>\n “This is made up of 113, 622 Day students, and 239, 431 Boarding students. As part of the implementation of the programme, boarding students are being given three square meals, whilst day students enjoy one hot meal each day.<\/p>\n In addition, government supplied the full complement of core textbooks, supplementary readers and core English Literature books to all first year students.<\/p>\n Government also released subsidy for continuing in Senior High Schools, the Finance Minister stated.<\/p>\n –<\/p>\n By: Marian Ansah\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana
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