The Deputy Ranking Member on the Education Committee of Parliament has averred that the decision by the government to replace the current uniforms in our basic schools is a misplaced priority.
Dr. Clement Apaak opined that the decision is misplaced, especially in the face of the glaring challenges confronting the basic school system in Ghana.
“I think, in all honesty, it is a very misplaced priority at this point, Dr. Apaak declared.
In explaining his reason for describing the decision as a misplaced priority, Dr. Apaak affirmed that the public basic school system in the country is on the verge of collapse as a result of the neglect that the public basic school system has suffered under the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He said that invariably, the government’s attention has been on the free senior school policy and its implementation, and because of that, it has neglected the basic school system, which is facing serious challenges.
He stated that, “as we speak, capitation grants are in arrears of eight terms, a situation that is putting pressure on the heads of the various basic schools and shifting the cost of basic education to parents”.
He added that we also have a situation where only 65% of textbooks on the new curriculum have been distributed to the various schools.
He said there are about 3 million pupils in our basic schools without furniture, and so why will the government, in spite of all these glaring challenges, spend resources on rebranding schools by distributing uniforms?
“Is it not ironic that students will go and sit in dilapidated buildings on the floor with their new uniforms? Is that the best way to spend resources? I think it is a misplaced priority, and we have to shift it immediately. Let’s address the immediate challenges so the basic school system will survive and be better.
The MP promised that the new NDC government will enhance basic education, surpassing the current state of affairs under the NPP government.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
