Education Minister-designate vows to bridge North-South education gap

Education Minister-designate, Haruna Iddrisu has committed to tackling longstanding disparities in educational access and infrastructure between northern and southern Ghana.

Speaking during his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, January 20, 2025, the Tamale South MP underscored the urgent need for equity, quality, and inclusivity in the country’s education system.

“It’s important to recognize that as a country, there is a north-south divide when it comes to access to education,” he said.

Haruna Iddrisu traced the origins of this divide to historical inequalities, noting that while the first school in southern Ghana was established in 1876, northern Ghana did not receive its first secondary school until 1951.

“This historical gap has created a deficit that must be addressed. For instance, Achimota School was established in 1924, but Tamale Secondary School, the first in the north, came much later. Closing this gap remains a priority,” he emphasized.

The Minister-designate attributed higher participation rates in Northern Ghana under the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy to poverty, which has historically been a major barrier to education in the region.

“The participation rate in Northern Ghana for Free SHS is notably high. This reflects how poverty has hindered access to education in the past. Moving forward, our focus must shift to ensuring quality, equality, and equity,” he said.

Haruna Iddrisu also revealed alarming statistics on infrastructure deficits in Northern Ghana and other underserved regions such as Oti and Western North.

He highlighted a shortfall of approximately 5,000 educational facilities across basic, junior high, and senior high schools in these areas.

The Minister-designate pledged to work towards bridging these gaps, stressing that equitable access to education is critical to national development.

The initiative aligns with broader government efforts to promote inclusive growth and eliminate systemic inequalities in Ghana’s education sector.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith