The Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition (GNECC), has described government\u2019s alternative financing strategy, for its initiatives on education, especially the Free Senior High School as a knee-jerk reaction.<\/p>\n
In an attempt to resolve the infrastructural and logistical challenges of the policy, the government, as part of the 2018 budget, announced the setting up a fund to receive voluntary contributions from individuals and groups, to support the education sector and the implementation of the Free SHS policy.<\/p>\n
[contextly_sidebar id=”E1HUbCjmGOLGJWTRNWeFZiDVxHkVq1wi”]The implementation of the Free SHS policy has thus far been plagued by infrastructure challenges, with government station that the furniture deficit alone will cost GHc 80 million.<\/p>\n
In a statement commenting on the government’s initiatives for education, GNECC called for a long-term financing strategy that will effectively address the teething challenging confronting the Free SHS program.<\/p>\n
The collation believes government would have to widen the tax net and avoid harmful tax incentives in order to generate more revenue.<\/p>\n
It also said there was the need to improve governance and accountability to “increase efficiency and the effective use of existing resources, which ensures that financing reaches the classroom.\u201d<\/p>\n
The group noted corruption as a challenge that should be taken into account, and thus advised that the government tracks spending as this can \u201csignificantly increase the funds that schools actually receive since crucial funds are lost through corruption and inefficiency.\u201d<\/p>\n
“Whatever financial support is given to the educational sector should also be sensitive to the needs of beneficiaries and based on evidence of what works\u201d the collation added.<\/p>\n