Executive Director, Afica Education Watch, Kofi Asare has revealed that the right to free compulsory universal basic education is under threat in Ghana.
According to Mr. Asare, there are about one million children in between four and eighteen who are supposed to be in school but are not.
In an interview monitored by Thinknewsonline.com, he said "Government is not investing adequately in basic schools and so access to opportunities continue to narrow by the day"
He added that over the past 4 to 5 years, government expenditure towards basic education keeps declining.
"8 years ago, about 30% of the pre-tertiary discretionary budget was going to basic education and secondary education was getting 70%"
"Today, basic education is struggling to get 10% of the pre-tertiary discretionary budget simply because of an extravagant free senior high school programme"
He stressed that it was important for government to note that the country cannot prioritize secondary education and neglect basic education.
"If we fail to build basic schools, our children cannot enrol in schools, complete and come and enjoy free education"
He reminded government that the continuous decline in investment in basic education and the over emphasis and overspending of secondary education is affecting Ghana's ability to guarantee free basic education as a right.
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith
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