The deputy ranking Member on the Education Committee in Parliament, Dr. Clement Apaak says there are pressing issues at the basic schools that the Minister of Education should be more concerned about than rebranding the school.
This comes on the back of the Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum announcing plans to change the brown and yellow uniforms worn by pupils of basic schools across the country.
“We are changing the uniforms of public basic schools in the country. The yellow and brown that you see now, you will see no more. Reformation is coming to a community near you, and you will see it.
“We are switching to blue and white. We are painting all the schools to give it an attractive outlook. This is the transformation Ghana deserves and it is coming,” the Minister disclosed.
The move has been met with several criticisms from the public despite the explanation from the Ministry.
The spokesperson at the Ministry of Education, Kwasi Kwarteng, explained that the minister’s announcement is not an immediate of the Ministry.
However, in a statement by the deputy ranking on the Education Committee, he stated that there are many challenges in the basic school which include the infrastructural deficit, especially poor toilet facilities among others.
“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,” Dr. Apaak stated.
He continued: “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.”
Below is the full statement by Dr. Clement 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:-
