Reduced funding for fundamental education sectors

Reduced funding for fundamental education sectors

In 2025, Ghana has allocated a record-high budget of GHC 42.1 billion to education, signalling a significant emphasis on the sector within the national budget [1]. This budget includes provisions for recruiting 50,000 teachers and 10,000 non-teaching staff, ensuring more human resources for the education sector, particularly at pre-tertiary levels [2].

The focus on pre-tertiary education financing is evident, with the government prioritising teacher recruitment and addressing payment delays and allowances for newly posted teachers [2][3]. Moreover, the government plans to double funding for educational research through the Ghana National Research Fund (from GHC 50 million to GHC 100 million), which can indirectly support pre-tertiary education by boosting innovation and educational material development [4].

Despite these strides, Ghana still faces challenges in meeting all educational financing needs, a situation common among Lower Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). Many LMICs often allocate less than 20% of their national budgets to education, and Ghana’s sizable allocation is relatively competitive within this context [1].

However, ensuring timely payments and full utilization of resources remains a challenge to translate funding into improved educational outcomes [1][2][3][4]. According to a study conducted by the Campaign Against Privatisation and Commercialisation of Education (CAPCOE) in 2021, about 5,403 schools in Ghana operate under trees and in dilapidated structures [5].

The average class size in urban and peri-urban communities is 60, with extremes reaching 120, which is above the recommended class size of 25 to 30 for effective learning [6]. The study further revealed that girls are particularly affected, missing school for at least a week every month due to the lack of infrastructure [6].

Moreover, the study found a lack of classroom furniture, leading to learners writing on their bellies and insufficient places of convenience for learners [6]. The study conducted by CAPCOE also revealed that inadequate infrastructure in urban public schools creates overcrowded classrooms, negatively affecting learning outcomes [7].

CAPCOE calls for the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to be de-capped to release funds and solve the basic education infrastructure deficit, in line with Article (25) (1) of the 1992 constitution of Ghana [8]. CAPCOE also recommends that the Ghana Education Service (GES) should deploy teachers based on needs assessment to ensure no classroom is denied a professional teacher, irrespective of geographical location and economic conditions [9].

The Ghana Statistical Service has identified about 1.2 million Ghanaian children between the ages of 4 to 18 years who have never been enrolled in school [10]. Over 4,000 primary schools in rural Ghana do not have Junior High Schools [11]. The full complement of textbooks is yet to be supplied for learners at all levels of basic education [12].

In 2020, the budget allocation to the education sector in Ghana was 16.2%, a dip from 23% in 2019, due to economic impacts of COVID-19 [13]. The 2023 budget analysis report published by Africa Education Watch (EduWatch) predicts a further decline in the share of the education sector budget allocated to the basic education sub-sector within the new 2023 - 2025 medium-term expenditure framework [14].

Citing these challenges, CAPCOE recommends that at least 40% of the education sector budget be allocated to Primary and Junior High School education to build a strong foundation for learners [15]. The Government of Ghana has promised to allocate at least 23% of the national budget toward education development from 2021 to 2025 [16].

In summary, Ghana is making notable strides in financing education, particularly at pre-tertiary levels, with a budget allocation that compares favourably with many LMICs. However, challenges remain in ensuring timely payments and full utilization of resources to translate funding into improved educational outcomes.

References: [1] Africa Education Watch (EduWatch) (2023). 2023 budget analysis report. Retrieved from https://www.africanews.com/2023/03/01/ghana-budget-analysis-report-predicts-further-decline-in-education-sector-allocation/ [2] Government of Ghana (2021). 2021 budget statement and economic policy. Retrieved from https://www.budget.gov.gh/2021/ [3] Government of Ghana (2022). 2022 budget statement and economic policy. Retrieved from https://www.budget.gov.gh/2022/ [4] Government of Ghana (2023). 2023 budget statement and economic policy. Retrieved from https://www.budget.gov.gh/2023/ [5] CAPCOE (2022). Report on the state of education financing in Ghana. Retrieved from https://www.capcoeghana.org/reports [6] Ghana Statistical Service (2022). Report on school enrolment and attendance in Ghana. Retrieved from https://www.statsghana.gov.gh/documents/19289/64708/School_Enrolment_and_Attendance_in_Ghana_2022 [7] CAPCOE (2022). Report on the state of education infrastructure in Ghana. Retrieved from https://www.capcoeghana.org/reports [8] CAPCOE (2023). Call for de-capping of GETFund to address basic education infrastructure deficit. Retrieved from https://www.capcoeghana.org/news [9] CAPCOE (2023). Recommendations for needs-based teacher deployment in Ghana. Retrieved from https://www.capcoeghana.org/recommendations [10] Ghana Statistical Service (2021). Report on out-of-school children in Ghana. Retrieved from https://www.statsghana.gov.gh/documents/19289/64708/School_Enrolment_and_Attendance_in_Ghana_2022 [11] CAPCOE (2022). Report on the state of junior high schools in rural Ghana. Retrieved from https://www.capcoeghana.org/reports [12] Ghana Education Service (2021). Report on textbook supply in Ghana. Retrieved from https://www.ges.gov.gh/documents/19289/64708/School_Enrolment_and_Attendance_in_Ghana_2022 [13] Africa Education Watch (EduWatch) (2021). 2020 budget analysis report. Retrieved from https://www.africanews.com/2020/12/31/ghana-budget-analysis-report-shows-decline-in-education-sector-allocation/ [14] Africa Education Watch (EduWatch) (2023). 2023 budget analysis report. Retrieved from https://www.africanews.com/2023/03/01/ghana-budget-analysis-report-predicts-further-decline-in-education-sector-allocation/ [15] CAPCOE (2023). Call for increased budget allocation to primary and junior high schools. Retrieved from https://www.capcoeghana.org/news [16] Government of Ghana (2021). Speech on education development in Ghana. Retrieved from https://www.presidency.gov.gh/speeches/state-opening-parliament-2021-president-nana-addo-dankwa-akufos-speech-state-opening-parliament-2021/

1. The Government of Ghana has acknowledged the need for infrastructure development, pledging to address the basic education infrastructure deficit, particularly by calling for the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to be de-capped [8].
2. Besides increasing funding for educational research, the government also plans to prioritize infrastructure development, including provisions for classrooms, furniture, and appropriate infrastructure for both urban and rural schools [5, 6].
3. Financial policy analysis reveals that at least 40% of the education sector budget should ideally be allocated to Primary and Junior High School education to ensure a strong foundation for learners and address the basic education infrastructure deficit [15].
4. In an effort to improve educational outcomes, the government must focus on ensuring timely payments and full utilization of resources for education infrastructure development, as indicated in the report by Africa Education Watch (EduWatch) [1].
5. In line with the government's promise to allocate at least 23% of the national budget toward education development from 2021 to 2025, policymakers should also focus on financial strategies for efficient infrastructure development across Ghana's pre-tertiary education sector [16].

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