Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, Deputy Ranking Member on the Education Committee of Parliament, has advised the Akufo-Addo administration to refrain from repainting public basic schools in the colours of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Despite reports suggesting that the government
intends to repaint existing public basic schools from brown and yellow to blue
and white, the Ministry of Education clarified in a statement that the
initiative is solely for newly constructed basic schools.
The Ministry also confirmed that there are no plans
to change the uniforms in all public schools.
In a statement, the
Builsa South MP urged the government to allocate resources to address the
pressing issues facing the education sector.
We call on Ghanaians to join us in
resisting this needless initiative in the collective interest of the State of
the Republic of Ghana. If the Ministry of Education has funds, advisedly, those
funds should go to address the long list of challenges narrated by Heads of
public basic schools.”
He expressed concern that the repainting of public
basic schools in NPP colours could be a means for the government to award
contracts to cronies.
“Besides the overt attempt to brand public basic
schools in NPP colours, the only other reason is to create an avenue to award
sole-sourced contracts to families, friends, and party members.”
Read
below the full statement by Dr Apaak
CEASE, DESIST FROM BRANDING GHANA PUBLIC BASIC
SCHOOLS IN NPP COLOURS
The Minister for Education should cease forthwith,
and with immediate effect, desist from any further rebranding public basic
schools in Ghana in NPP colours.
How can he, at this time of economic
crisis in Ghana, be thinking of wasting public resources to repaint public
schools in Blue and White colours; and introduce wearing of Blue and White
uniforms in public schools, when 1 million plus public basic school pupils have
no access to furniture?
Has the Minister forgotten, what he told Parliament,
during his last visit? In his report to Parliament, it has been captured, that
only 65% of textbooks have been supplied thus far?
Maybe he needs a reminder. May I remind him, that
capitation grants are still in arrears for the equivalent of eight terms?
How could rebranding be a priority in the face of
these challenges facing public education in Ghana? See below, a more detailed
list of shared challenges affecting teaching and learning in public basic
schools in Ghana by a Headteacher of a basic school:-
. Delay in releases of meagre Capitation
Grant (10 cedis per head per annum), which is in arrears for eight tranches (
equivalent to 8 Terms);
2. Infrastructural deficit, especially poor toilet
facilities;
3. Lack of textbooks from KG to JHS: more than three
years after the introduction of reforms;
4. No sample questions for 2024 BECE Candidates (the
first batch of the New Reform);
5. Lack of furniture for both teachers and students;
6. Lack of security personnel to protect properties
of schools – leading to rampant theft cases;
7. Unpaid Utility bills (Electricity & Water)
leading to disconnections;
8. Schools in urban areas face the uphill task of
disposing refuse, because no money to pay waste collectors.
According to the Head Teacher, basic school
administrators are struggling to manage the affairs of schools, because of
inadequate funding, neglect and delay in the releases of the capitation
grants, etc.
These are issues Hon. Yaw Adutwum should be worried
about, not the colours of school blocks and school uniforms. Spending public
time and resources painting schools in Blue and White, and introducing Blue and
White uniforms are clearly misplaced priorities.
Besides the overt attempt to brand public
basic schools in NPP colours, the only other reason is to create an avenue to
award sole sourced contracts to families, friends, and party members.
We call on Ghanaians to join us in resisting this
needless initiative in the collective interest of the State of the Republic of
Ghana. If the Ministry of Education has funds, advisedly, those funds should go
to address the long list of challenges narrated by Heads of public basic
schools.
Signed
Dr. Clement Abas Apaak
MP, Builsa South and Deputy Ranking Member on the Education Committee of
Parliament
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