The government has been instructed to devote at least 10% of the budget for goods and services and 33% of the budget for educational infrastructure to the provision of basic education.
According to Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch), the government must take this action if the nation is to invest sufficiently in the construction of new schools to replace the more than 5,000 that are currently located under trees and sheds and to educate the 1 million children who are not enrolled in school.
Despite Ghana’s efforts to promote child education, Eduwatch stated on the occasion of the International Day of Education that there is still room for improvement if the government does so.
The think tank pointed out that the United Nations designated January 24 as International Day of Education five years ago to recognize and honor the importance that education plays in society.
The commemoration this year marks the halfway point in the effort to accomplish the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
Ghana, like many other nations, has made a commitment to ensuring that all children of compulsory school age attend and finish the whole basic education program with applicable learning outcomes by 2030.
“While Ghana has since made significant strides over the years to promote access to education for many children, there still remain 1 million children out of school – approximately 9% of children aged 4 -16. Quality in the delivery of education remains a challenge, as about 87% of children aged 10 could not read and understand age-appropriate sentences by 2018,” a statement issued by Eduwatch said.
The government of Ghana has pledged to improve education, and this requires adequate and equitable financing, it was further said. However, the government’s reform ambition is not supported by the most recent 40% budget cut to basic education (Goods and Services).
According to the President’s commitment at the 2022 United Nations Transforming Education Summit, the government must enhance the existing 12% allocation of the national education budget to 23% in order to reform education.
“At least 10% of the Goods and Services budget and 33% of the infrastructure budget of the education sector must be committed to basic education, if we are to invest adequately to build new schools to replace the over 5,000 schools currently under trees and sheds, and provide education for the 1 million out of school children.
“There is no better day to recommit to adequate and equitable financing of education than the International Day of Education 2023,” it said.
