The transformative power of education is well-documented and self-evident. This is why the NDC has always prioritized education at all levels since its inception.
Unfortunately, the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government has neglected the education sector, resulting in severe distortions. These issues are evident in the acute infrastructural deficit, erratic academic calendar, inconsistent curricula, lack of investment in teachers’ professional needs, prolonged and unresolved strikes, inadequate teaching materials, and declining educational outcomes.
Resetting the Education Sector for Enhanced Quality Outcomes
The next NDC government will undertake a comprehensive reset of our educational system in collaboration with all stakeholders. Our objectives are to expand infrastructure, enhance teacher welfare and professional development, and increase investments in the sector to improve quality outcomes.
Teacher Training and Welfare
The next NDC/Mahama government will:
Prioritize the timely promotion of teachers and ensure funds are available for their remuneration.
Launch the “Teacher Dabr3” Project to provide accommodation facilities for teachers within new school buildings.
Introduce a special allowance of 20 percent of the basic salary for teachers accepting postings to rural and underserved communities.
Abolish the teacher licensure examination and integrate the licensing process into the final year examination of trainees.
Eliminate the NPP’s mandatory national service for teacher trainee graduates and restore automatic employment for newly qualified teachers.
Partner with teacher unions to initiate the Government-Assisted Mortgage Scheme (GAMOS) to help teachers own homes.
Launch a scheme to assist teachers in purchasing vehicles by offering flexible payment arrangements and government guarantees in collaboration with teacher unions and the banking sector.
Establish a College of Education in the Afram Plains to address the acute professional teacher deficit.
Early Childhood and Basic Education
The next NDC/Mahama government will:
Introduce the ‘Bright Beginnings Initiative’ to revitalize early childhood education and ensure a seamless transition into continuous schooling and lifelong learning.
Integrate early childhood education into basic education supported by appropriate infrastructure.
Establish a Department for Early Childhood Development within the Ministry of Education to promote early childhood education.
Launch the ‘Furniture for All Initiative’ to address the acute deficit in basic education by partnering with the local carpentry and furniture industry.
Improve the pupil-to-textbook ratio by providing curriculum-based textbooks.
Undertake an aggressive infrastructure drive to address the issue of schools under trees and rehabilitate dilapidated school buildings.
Implement the ‘SmartStart Curriculum’ to integrate STEM, coding, digital literacy, and TVET into basic education curricula.
Increase and ensure regular payment of capitation and feeding grants.
Promote digital literacy by providing computer facilities with digitized learning materials and upgrading ICT laboratories.
Promote solar energy as the primary energy source for school facilities.
Secondary and TVET Education
The next NDC/Mahama government will:
Abolish the double-track system to restore a stable one-track academic calendar.
Launch an emergency infrastructure drive to complete abandoned E-blocks and expand infrastructure in existing SHSs and TVET institutions.
Establish a dedicated, sustainable funding source for quality secondary education by ring-fencing a percentage of oil proceeds.
Decentralize procurement of food and basic supplies to ensure timely delivery and improve the quality of food for students.
Continue providing free laptops/tablets for SHS students.
Extend Free SHS to cover students in private Senior High Schools.
Review the Computerized School Selection & Placement System (CSSPS) to address corruption and ensure merit-based placement.
Reform secondary education curricula to integrate STEM, agriculture, vocational skills, digital literacy, civic education, design thinking, and life skills.
Expand Science Resource Centres (SRC) across regions to support STEM/TVET education.
Establish regional TVET Centres of Excellence with state-of-the-art facilities to promote innovation and simulate real work environments.
Rebrand and increase investments in TVET as a key driver of economic transformation.
Implement a ‘National Apprenticeship Programme’ to generate self-employment through free technical and vocational training.
Tertiary Education
The next NDC/Mahama government will:
Implement a ‘No-Academic-Fees’ policy for all first-year students in public tertiary institutions.
Provide Free Tertiary Education for all persons with disabilities.
Launch a ‘Bed-for-All’ program to build on-campus hostels and expand accommodation facilities through PPP schemes.
Provide trainee allowances, student loans, and diverse funding options for teacher and nurse trainees.
Revamp the Student Loan Trust Fund to increase loan amounts based on needs and ensure prompt disbursement.
Introduce legislation to streamline government scholarship administration and prohibit awards to government officials.
De-collateralize the GETFUND and restore it to its original mandate of educational financing.
Continue establishing public universities in every region, focusing on newly-created regions.
Improve subventions to public universities and ensure timely disbursements.
Conclusion
H.E. John Dramani Mahama has a proven track record in education and can be trusted to deliver on these promises. He is a visionary and sincere leader who deserves your support. Vote for John Dramani Mahama to ensure every Ghanaian child receives quality education. Help us rescue and reset our education system for the collective good.
