Former deputy Information Minister, Felix Kwakye Ofosu has penned down nine reasons why he thinks the Akufo-Addo led government has plunged Ghana’s education into deep crises.
In a post on social media, he emphasised the nine stated points are a few of the many challenges the country’s educational sector face.
His post is below:
The Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government has plunged education into deep crises. There are very serious problems at all levels of education. The following are a few:
1. For two straight years, textbooks have not been printed and supplied to basic schools.
2. Capitation grants have been in arrears of four traches.
3. This government is unable to release something as basic as a calendar for this academic year. Apparently, drawing up the academic calendar has become rocket science requiring the setting up of additional committees.
4. 44,000 teachers representing 15% of teachers have abandoned the classroom due to poor conditions of service. This is the highest in 20 years.
4. At the second cycle level, CHASS has issued an ultimatum for several months’ arrears in funding to be released for the running of the much-vaunted Free SHS, lest they would not be in a position to reopen secondary schools. This chronic lack of funding has been responsible for the erratic academic calendar in the last few years which has been very frustrating for parents and students.
5. At the Tertiary level, students are unable to find or afford accommodation in universities compelling some of them to defer courses.
6. University lecturers have threatened to embark on industrial action due to the government’s failure to meet their wage demands.
7. In 2021, College of Education students spent just a quarter of the time they needed to spend in school because of the non-release of funds to run the schools.
8. Teacher and nursing trainee allowances have been in arrears for several months. There is now talk of replacing it with student loans-the same proposal that Bawumia shouted himself hoarse and harangued the Mahama administration for, in opposition.
9. Even those who managed to complete school and found themselves on Nabco are owed several months’ arrears and endured a very bitter Christmas.
These are telltale signs of a government in sixes and sevens that is hopelessly incompetent and simply unable to get anything right.
Source: Mybrytnewsroom/Kwabena Nyarko Abronoma
