The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has disclosed that the country has allocated a total of GH₵114,500,612,135.00 billion to the education sector in the last seven years.
This means that every year since 2017, the government has spent approximately GH₵16,357,230,305 billion on the education sector.
Of this, GH₵12, 961, 284, 548.00 which is 11.3% of the total has been spent on Senior High Schools (SHSs).
“At the senior high school alone, of which there are 925 schools, we have initiated a total of 1,105 projects, including accommodation and teaching and learning-related projects from 2017 to date,” he stated.
In an address at the 61st Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) in Accra, President Akufo-Addo said the investment had translated into the execution of a total of 1,105 projects at the second-cycle level.
These include accommodation, teaching and learning-related projects such as classroom blocks, science laboratories and home economics blocks, dormitories and model STEM schools. Through the Ghana Education Trust (GET) Fund, some 1, 270 infrastructure interventions have also been implemented at the basic level to help improve the standards for early childhood education.
President Nana Akufo-Addo explained that projects relating to the construction of schools came with cutting-edge technology, including smart boards, to enhance interactive learning experiences. “I am pleased to report that a substantial number of these projects are nearing completion, and by early 2024, they will be fully operational,” he said.
The president touted the achievements of his government in the education sector as unmatched.
He said no government in the history of the Fourth Republic had done more for the growth of the education sector than his government.
To buttress his point, President Akufo-Addo said 280,000 laptops for teachers, 350 buses, 840 pick-up vehicles, 1,500 motorcycles and 667,470 pieces of furniture had also been distributed since 2017.
He further disclosed that 450,000 tablets under the one-student, one-tablet policy would also be distributed soon.
While espousing the progress to transform education at the Junior High School (JHS) level, he cited the construction of 11 model schools across the country. These facilities are expected to be fitted with modern amenities to provide an optimal learning environment for meaningful outcomes when completed.
He touched on the Ghana National Digital Literacy Project, saying it was meant to ensure every student was equipped to thrive in the global digital economy.
Minister of Education Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, lauded CHASS for being a worthy partner of the government in pursuit of the nation’s educational goals.
“The authorities would provide the schools with the needed incentives and resources to improve academic work,” he assured.
He said there was no way Ghana could play a more significant role in the Fourth Industrial Revolution without vibrant and appropriate educational policies.
Consequently, he praised the Nana Akufo-Addo-led administration for implementing the Free SHS programme to enhance access to quality education.
The Conference was held on the theme: “61 Years of Shaping Second-Cycle Education in Ghana: The Challenges and Successes in Contemporary Times”. It discussed Ghana’s educational policies, successes and challenges.