A Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Education Committee, Dr Clement Apaak, has questioned why basic schools in Ghana have not yet received textbooks to enable smooth teaching and learning after weeks of reopening.
Following the implementation of the Standard-based curriculum in 2019 for basic schools in Ghana, the state has been unable to deliver on its promise to provide public schools textbooks for the realisation of the programme, he said.
According to the Builsa South Member of Parliament, the Minister for Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, assured the public of getting the textbooks distributed, but several weeks have passed, and basic schools have not received the learning materials.
“Even before the Minister’s appearance before the committee, he and his Deputy told the nation via various media interactions that the books were being moved to the regions from various printing houses for onward distribution to the schools.
“They assured that pupils will have textbooks when schools reopen. Well, schools are in session, so why are the books not in the classrooms as promised?” Dr Apaak said in a statement.
Below is his full statement…
WHY ARE PUBLIC BASIC SCHOOLS IN SESSION WITHOUT TEXTBOOKS AND CAPITATION GRANT
Public Basic Schools in Ghana reopened on Tuesday, 13th September. This is the second week into the reopening of the third term for the 2021/2022 academic year. However, the issues of textbooks and payment of the capitation grant remain unresolved:
1) Textbooks: Checks indicate that basic schools are yet to received the long awaited textbooks. This is in spite of the fact that the Minister for Education promised and reiterated that the books will be available by the time schools resumed, when he appeared before the Parliamentary Select Committee on Government Assurances a few weeks ago.
Even before the Minister’s appearance before the committee, he and his Deputy told the nation via various media interactions that the books were being moved to the regions from various printing houses for onward distribution to the schools. They assured that pupils will have textbooks when schools reopen. Well schools are in session, so why are the books not in the classrooms as promised?
2) Capitation Grant: The capitation grant is in arrears for six tranches, which constitutes six terms. Information from heads of basic schools confirm that not even a pesewa has been paid for the 2021/2022 academic year.
Before Parliament went on recess, I asked the Minister for Education to tell the nation how much was owed schools in respect of the grant, and when the arrears will be paid, on the floor of Parliament. He agreed that government owed schools the capitation grant. He added that Ghc 14 million had been made available to pay some of the arrears. The legitimate questions to ask are; a) where did the Ghc 14 million go, and, b) how are schools expected to function effectively and efficiently without the grant?
The Minister for Education must address these matters with dispatch. Our basic schools need the textbooks and the capitation grant now.
Dr. Clement Apaak
M.P, Builsa South and Deputy Ranking Member On Education Committee of Parliament