Africa Education Watch has urged stakeholders in education to push for more equitable sub-sectoral financing of education in Ghana.
In a brief, it expressed concern that basic education was not getting enough support from the government.
It noted that basic education received only 37 percent of its allocation from the Ghana Education Trust Fund.
This is in contrast to secondary education, which received 135 percent of its allocation.
“In summary, basic education received a quarter of what went to secondary education in 2021. Note, however, that this disbursement to secondary excludes the GHC 866 million spent by GETFund in servicing a loan taken by MoE to upgrade SHS,” the brief noted.
The think tank indicated that the deficit in funding has some linkage with poor quality basic education in Ghana.
“4,000 primary schools still do not have a JHS; over 5,400 schools still exist under trees, sheds & dilapidated structures; and 40% of basic school pupils lack desks in class.”
Find below the full brief
Eduwatch GETFund Brief
The Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) is the main source of financing education infrastructure.
There are about 1.3 million learners in Ghana’s Second Cycle Schools. Even though GHC 74 million of GETFund was allocated to Second Cycle Education in 2021, the Government of Ghana (GoG) ended up disbursing even more i.e. GHC 100 million, representing a disbursement rate of 135%.
At the same time, Basic Education with over 7 million learners was allocated only GH 66 million, yet GoG disbursed only GHC 25 million, representing 37% of the allocation.
In summary, basic education received a quarter of what went to secondary education in 2021. Note however, that this disbursement to secondary excludes the GHC 866 million spent by GETFund in servicing a loan taken by MoE to upgrade SHS.
Perhaps, this helps in understanding why that basic school in your community remains abandoned; 4,000 primary schools still do not have a JHS; over 5,400 schools still exist under trees, sheds & dilapidated structures; and 40% of basic school pupils lack desks in class.
Citizens, CSOs, media must accelerate their advocacy for equitable sub-sectoral financing of education in Ghana.
