Executive Director of Africa Education Watch, a civil society organization focused on Education, Kofi Asare, has revealed that the Government of Ghana has not supplied free exercise books to basic schools since 2017, a development, he notes, has the potential of worsening the low literacy and numeracy abilities of pupils in basic schools.
Mr Asare has questioned the rationale behind supplying free exercise books and note books to students in senior high schools when basic school pupils lack these materials which are key to their progress to the senior high schools.
He pointed out that the need for free exercise books is especially important for rural communities where poverty is rife and literary and numeracy abilities are lowest.
“Ghana’s Ministry of Education has since 2017 ceased the supply of free exercise books to Basic School pupils, and rather prioritized free Exercise Books and Note Books for Senior High Schools (SHS). What is the strategy behind providing all SHS students with free Uniforms and Exercise Books when poor Basic School pupils in rural areas who cannot speak English do not have exercise books?…
What is the Rationale behind this Policy of cancelling the free supply of exercise books to rural basic schools and introducing same at all SHS for all students, rich or poor?” He quizzed.
Mr Asare stressed that Government’s achievements in providing infrastructure will be meaningless if exercise books for basic schools are lacking, adding that government must endeavour to care for the educational needs of the poor less they become a nuisance to society in the future.
“As we go about displaying school buildings, dormitories, cars, etc as achievements (which is good), remember the absence of an Exercise Book in the Basic School Classroom makes the most beautiful school building absolutely meaningless. If we don’t show concern for the education of the poor, they will give us sleepless nights when we become rich,” he stressed.
He charged the leaders to “get their priorities right by Improving on Allocative and Spending Efficiency.”
Full post of Mr Asare here:
The last time i checked, less than 25% of Primary 6 pupils had minimum proficiency in English and Mathematics; and this was as low as 2% in some rural districts. Meanwhile, Ghana’s Ministry of Education has since 2017 ceased the supply of free exercise books to Basic School pupils, and rather prioritized free Exercise Books and Note Books for Senior High Schools (SHS). What is the strategy behind providing all SHS students with free Uniforms and Exercise Books when poor Basic School pupils in rural areas who cannot speak English do not have exercise books? My NPP friends, please ask our Honourable Minister of Education for me! What is the Rationale behind this Policy of cancelling the free supply of exercise books to rural basic schools and introducing same at all SHS for all students, rich or poor?
As we go about displaying school buildings, dormitories, cars, etc as achievements (which is good), remember the absence of an Exercise Book in the Basic School Classroom makes the most beautiful school building absolutely meaningless.
If we don’t show concern for the education of the poor, they will give us sleepless nights when we become rich.
Our leaders must get their priorities right by Improving on Allocative and Spending Efficiency.
Good Morning!
