Pictures and videos of teachers and pupils of Mensahkrom R/C Primary School in the Buoku Electoral Area in
Wenchi Municipality of the Bono Region being forced to undertake academic activities under a tree must tug at the
heartstrings of all patriotic Ghanaians.
The scene is unsightly in a country that can afford fleets of Land Cruisers and high-end luxury for public officials.
Beyond that, it becomes quickly apparent that Ghana urgently needs to engage in serious dialogue on
what reforms can be undertaken to make education accessible, useful, beneficial and affordable to all.
We believe that it cannot be acceptable, that children at the very basic level should be receiving education and
instructions under trees or lying on mats on bare earth floors, whilst we provide free, fully paid up education at the
second cycle and tertiary levels. This is happening because students at the tertiary and second cycle levels vote,
whilst their compatriots receiving basic education do not.
But beyond that, we need to establish whether the nation would continue to offer ‘free education’ when there are
glaring inequalities in the sharing of the national resource.
The Daily Searchlight has advocated on numerous occasions that the nation should do away with free education at
all levels, including basic education.
Parents and guardians should be made to contribute financially to the education of their wards and children. They
should also be given a say in the quality of education the schools give out, and the children receive. As it is, the
government has absolute control over what curricula; but if the results are anything to go by, then that curricula is
not useful.
It is time for change.
After the above is done, we should also put in place a beneficial scholarship scheme that would capture those who
just cannot afford to be in the classroom. No one should be left behind; but that does not mean that those who can
afford, should not be made to pay their way.
There is also a need to comprehensively restructure the curricula of the educational system, so that we downplay the
grammar school and so-called literacy and numeracy, whilst improving practicality and with an eye on the job
market.
(Editorial of the Daily Searchlight of 14 th January, 2025).
