Dr. Clement Apaak, Ranking Member of Parliament’s Education Committee, has called on the Ghanaian government to urgently increase investments in public basic education.
Speaking at the Baraka Policy Institute (BPI) Annual Public Lecture on September 4, 2024, Dr. Apaak addressed the critical challenges facing rural schools, emphasizing the need for teacher incentives and improved infrastructure. He stressed that strengthening foundational education is vital for the country’s future.
“To improve basic education in rural areas, we needed to incentivize teachers with better accommodation and higher pay. In our communities, lack of teacher housing was a major issue. We suggested providing accommodation and a 20% salary boost for those teaching in underserved areas.”
Dr. Apaak also highlighted other significant challenges, including shortages of furniture and textbooks, as well as declining funding for basic education.
“We also faced furniture shortages. We proposed partnering with local carpenters to supply furniture to 1.3 million students who lacked it.
The textbook situation was concerning. Six years after introducing a new curriculum, only 65% of needed books had been supplied. This showed poor planning.”
“Unfortunately, funding for basic education had been decreasing. We believed more resources should go to early education, as it’s the foundation for all learning.”
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Story by: Promise Yaa Dakey | universnews.ug.edu.gh
