In a strongly worded advocacy note, Kofi Asare, Executive Director of Africa Education Watch, has called on the new government to ensure the 2025 education budget prioritises inclusive and equitable education infrastructure.
He warned that without deliberate interventions, the digital divide in Ghana’s basic education system would widen, further entrenching educational inequalities, especially in deprived regions.
“A gentle reminder to the new government that even though Computing is a compulsory subject in basic schools, 85% do not have functioning computer labs, reason many aren’t writing at BECE; GES is compelled to make it optional at exam as a stop-gap.
“Meanwhile, our curriculum aims to produce 21st century graduates, with digital literacy as a core competency. As usual, this is happening in urban public schools and in the private sector, laying the foundation for another inequality- digital inequality. “
Kofi Asare
According to Mr Asare, the situation is even more alarming in Ghana’s five northern regions, where the deficit reaches 95%. He further pointed out that many of these schools also lack access to electricity, rendering the idea of ICT laboratories meaningless without prior infrastructure investments.
Kofi Asare also referenced recent remarks by the Minister of Education regarding plans to introduce solar energy to basic and secondary schools. While he acknowledged that solar solutions could be beneficial, he stressed that the government must prioritize foundational infrastructure first.
“While this sounds great, we must proceed with the understanding that over 5k of these schools are still under trees, sheds etc..with about 80% in the 5 northern regions, Oti and Western North. Without energy, there can be no ICT lab. But without a standard school building, there can’t be both.”
Kofi Asare
For Kofi Asare, solar means nothing to a school under a tree or shed, adding that “the system will be stolen in the next hour”.
He argued that solar power is 90% needed in basic schools because of ICT and STEM labs, asserting that without these, solar power virtually becomes a mere procurement activity in the short-to-medium term.
A Call for Smart and Equitable Investment
Kofi Asare proposed a more efficient and equitable approach to addressing these deficits, advocating for an integrated plan that provides schools with proper buildings, ICT labs, and solar systems, rather than simply installing solar power in existing concrete structures without ICT facilities.
“I respectfully opine that it is economically efficient and equitable to provide a school building, ICT lab, and solar system for 1,000 schools under trees than procure solar systems for 5,000 schools in concrete buildings with electricity but without ICT labs. What would these schools use the solar power for?”
Kofi Asare
Similarly, he argued that basic schools with standard buildings and existing electricity connections do not necessarily need solar systems but rather fully equipped ICT labs to maximize digital learning.
To advocate for these reforms, Kofi Asare disclosed that the Africa Education Watch, with support from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), will meet with the Ministers of Education and Finance this week.
These discussions, he anticipated will center on prioritizing deprived schools in infrastructure investment within the 2025 education budget.
Additionally, Mr Asare indicated that Eduwatch will publish the next set of its Manifesto Promise to Policy Briefs, covering critical issues such as the rollout of solar systems in schools, the No Fee Stress policy at the tertiary level, and the National Apprenticeship Programme.
Kofi Asare concluded with a firm call to action: “The 2025 National Budget must not just smell Education. It must smell Equitable Education.”
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