1 million children aged 4-16 out of school in Ghana – EduWatch
Education think tank – Africa Education Watch (EduWatch) following the observation of the 2023 edition of the International Day of Education has disclosed 1 million children are currently out of school in the country.
In a statement on the Day of Education shared with AcademicWeek, EduWatch said amid challenges in the delivery of education, about 87% of children aged 10 in 2018 could not read and understand age-appropriation sentences.
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Citing the recent 40% budgetary cut to the country’s basic education, the think tank said the said allotment is not enough to support the education transformation agenda of the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo-led government.
“Ghana’s government has expressed its commitment to transforming education, and this requires adequate and equitable financing. However, the recent 40% budgetary cut to basic education (Goods and Services) does not support the transformation agenda of the government,” it stated.
In other, for the central government to achieve its education transformation goal, Africa Education Watch (EduWatch) has suggested an increase in the current 12% allocation of the national education budget to a maximum of 23%.
“To transform education, the government must increase the current 12% allocation of the national education budget to 23%, in line with the President’s commitment at the 2022 United Nations Transforming Education Summit,” it noted.
The Education Policy Research and Advocacy Organization continued that “at least 10% of the Goods and Services budget and 33% of the infrastructure budget of the education sector must be committed to basic education
if we are to invest adequately to build new schools to replace the over 5,000 schools currently under trees and sheds and provide education for the 1 million out-of-school children.”
The International Day of Education was proclaimed five years today (January 24) by the United Nations to acknowledge and celebrate the role of education as a tool for peace and development.
This year’s celebration marks the mid-point of the journey to achieve Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Ghana like many countries is observing the Day as part of an effort to enhance quality education for school-going-age children.