Deputy Ranking Member of the Education Committee of Parliament is asking the government to pay all outstanding arrears of the capitation grant before any move to increase it.
Dr. Clement Apaak said the government’s own letter to the International Monetary Fund for the bailout, pledged to increase the capitation grant.
He referenced the letter saying the government stated that while continuing to provide support to secondary and basic education, we will aim to improve foundational learning by increasing capitation grant.
He lamented that although the government has made this pledge to the IMF, it has failed to disburse it in four tranches.
The situation he noted is putting extra pressure on teaching and learning at the basic level.
He said the government now agrees that it is going to increase capitation grant but the most important thing is for it to move quickly and pay all outstanding arrears.
“The government ought to move very quickly to pay all outstanding arrears before it thinks of increasing the capitation grants,” he said in an interview.
Dr. Clement Apaak had consistently complained about how Basic Schools are struggling over neglect under the Akufo-Addo administration.
He.had warned the situation might cause the collapse of Basic Education if the government do not take immediate steps to salvage the situation.
In a recent statement he issued he said “Basic Schools are struggling to fund sports activities due to government’s refusal to disburse the Capitation Grant. This is yet another example of the neglect of our public basic schools by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government”.
He also lamented that most of the Heads used their own meagre salaries to cater for the Inter Schools Gala Competitions that were held last term because the Capitation Grant disbursed was woefully inadequate.
Our public basic school system is collapsing, the sooner we all call on the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government to disburse the Capitation Grant, the better for the future of Ghana.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
