A survey conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has revealed that as high as 25 per cent of youth who should be in Senior High School (SHS) are not in school.
At the primary school level, the number of school-going children who are out of school is also as high as 19 per cent.
The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey Six (MICS6), conducted in 2017/18 by the GSS, with support from various stakeholders, also shows that seven per cent of teenagers who should be in junior high school are not in school.
71% and 83% completion rate for primary and JHS.
According to the survey report, completion rates at primary and junior high schools are 71% and 83%, respectively.
Less than half of SHS students complete school.
The detailed report, signed by Baah Wadieh, acting Government Statistician at the time, also revealed that less than half of children complete higher secondary education.
Girls perform better than boys on completion of primary and JHS.
On completion of primary and JHS education, it was discovered that girls perform better than boys.
Wealth quintile and residence disparities.
It found that disparities continue to persist across all levels of education by wealth quintile and residence.
School completion low at rural and poor areas. Consequently, the survey report stated that the completion rate is higher for urban dwellers and the rich as compared to their rural and poor counterparts, respectively.
Objectives of the survey
The specific objectives of the survey report on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Ghana Medium-Term National Development Framework (2018-22) goals/targets, strengthen data and monitoring systems in Ghana, as well as identify vulnerable groups and disparities, which will inform social inclusion and poverty-reduction policies and interventions.
6% of girls, 7% of boys not attending early childhood education.
According to the findings, six per cent of girls and seven per cent of boys are not attending an early childhood education programme or primary education.
18% of girls, 20% of boys are not in primary or secondary school.
It revealed that 18 per cent of girls and 20 per cent of boys of primary school age are not in primary school.
7% girls, 8% boys of junior secondary school age not in school.
Children of junior secondary school age who are not in school were seven per cent for girls and eight per cent for boys, the report said.
15% girls, 17% boys at risk of dropping out of primary school
According to the report, children who are in primary school and overage by two or more years but are at risk of dropping out constitute 15 per cent for girls and 17 per cent for boys.
29% girls, 40% boys at risk of dropping out of JHS.
It stated that 29 per cent of girls and 40 per cent of boys who are in junior secondary school and overage by two or more years are at risk of dropping out.
School completion rates
The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey Six (MICS6) put completion rate at primary education, junior secondary and senior secondary education at 71%, 83% and 47%, respectively.
16% and 35% overage at primary education and Junior secondary
According to the report, the percentage of children overage for primary and junior secondary education is 16% and 35%, respectively.
Only 1 out of 5 children aged 7-14 years has foundational reading skills
The report said only one out of every five children between 7 and 14 years has foundational reading skills.
Only 1 out of 10 children aged 7-14 years demonstrates the required skills
It emerged that numeracy skills are lower since only one in every 10 children aged 7-14 years are able to demonstrate the required skills.
Best and worst performing regions
Greater Accra is the highest performer in both reading and numeracy while the Northern and Upper West regions are the least.
Girls better in reading skills, boys better in numeracy skills
Overall, girls perform better in reading skills while boys outperform girls in numeracy skills.
The report said children in urban areas and those in richest households outperform their counterparts in rural and poorest households outperform their counterparts in rural and poorest households respectively in both literacy and numeracy skills