Member of parliament for Builsa South and deputy ranking member on parliament’s education committee, Dr Clement Apaak, has expressed the need for the NPP government to be severely punished at the 2024 general elections.
According to him, the government has failed Ghanaians with respect to the fulfilment of developmental promises, especially within the education sector. He revealed that it is only under the “reckless and corrupt NADAA/Bawumia NPP” government that toilets are converted to accommodate students in a secondary school.
Citing a viral video of a secondary school in Tamale, Ghanasco, he explained that it is “unthinkable” and “most shocking” the squalid conditions students are living in. In light of this, he indicated that President Akufo-Addo must bow his head in shame considering the state of the education sector.
“The NPP must be severely punished at the 2024 polls for the dissipation of our resources to the detriment of the future of our nation. What is more important, using our resources to fund a personal pledged cathedral, jetting in luxury jets, sharing Covid-19 funds to party and gov’t officials or funding education?”
Dr Clement Apaak
Dr Apaak stated that the issue of inadequate residential and academic space is only one of the many challenges bedeviling effective teaching and learning in the country’s secondary schools. He highlighted that other challenges that remain include inadequate furniture, inadequate and unwholesome food, erratic academic calendar with students spending more time at home than in school, overworked teaching and non-teaching staff.
“Many are not aware that government since the inception of the fSHS policy is yet to remit a pesewa to cover library and ICT fees. Yet these fees are included in the basket of what government says is free.”
Dr Clement Apaak
The South Builsa legislator revealed that the record of the NADAA/Bawumia NPP government in the education sector is most embarrassing, especially with the levels of damage and retrogression taking years to fix.
Government’s performance when it comes to the education sector has been heavily criticized by the opposition party and some key stakeholders in the country. While some have called on the government to diligently resolve the pervading challenges within the education sector, others have expressed the need for government to leave office.
Prior to this, the Conference of Heads of Basic Schools (COHBS) expressed its disappointment in the delay in the release of capitation grants to basic schools to undertake sporting activities. It revealed that most of the Heads used their own meagre salaries to cater for the Inter Schools Gala Competitions that were held last term because the capitation grant disbursed by government was woefully inadequate.
It further noted that public basic school system is collapsing and the sooner all and sundry call on the the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government to “disburse the Capitation Grant”, the better for the future of Ghana.
Wading into the conversation, Dr Apaak lamented government’s inability to release capitation grant to basic schools to undertake sporting activities in the country. With this, he called on government to as a matter of urgency address the situation.
Earlier in January this year, education think tank, Africa Education Watch, also raised concerns over government’s delay in releasing capitation grants to basic schools. It stated that the government’s deliberate capping of capitation grants is hindering the quality of education in the country.
The Executive Secretary of Africa Education Watch, Kofi Asare, underscored that the Ministry of Finance must release the funds in full to schools. He was however skeptical about the improvement of the capitation grants, emphasizing on government’s cut down on the grants.
Justifying his stance, he revealed that last year 2022, some GHC2.92 million was allocated for basic education in terms of the goods and services, capitation grants and teacher learning resources, feeding grants to special schools and BECE subsidiary. However, he explained that when the finance minister went to Parliament to read 2023 budget, less than 19% had been disbursed.
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