Basic schools are yet to receive long awaited textbooks – Apaak

The third term of the 2022 academic year has commenced however, the Ministry of Education and the GES are yet to make textbooks available for effective teaching and learning in public schools.

Public schools have been operating without the appropriate textbooks to match the new curriculum which was introduced in 2019. Although the teacher unions called for the textbook to be supplied before school resumes in September and threatened to take action against the Ministry of Education and other public institutions, nothing has been heard from the teacher unions and the MoE has remained silent on the matter since schools reopened

Dr. Clement Apaak, Member of Parliament for Builsa South, has stated that basic schools in Ghana have yet to receive textbooks to facilitate effective teaching and learning.

This, he claims, despite the fact that when he appeared before the Parliamentary Select Committee on Government Assurances a few weeks ago, Minister of Education Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum promised and reiterated that the books would be available by the time schools resumed.

“Even before the Minister’s appearance before the committee, he and his Deputy told the nation via various media interactions that the books were being moved to the regions from various printing houses for onward distribution to the schools.

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“They assured that pupils will have textbooks when schools reopen. Well, schools are in session, so why are the books not in the classrooms as promised?” Dr Apaak who ias also Deputy Ranking Member On the Education Committee of Parliament said in a statement.

Basic schools are yet to receive long-awaited textbooks: Read the full statement…

WHY ARE PUBLIC BASIC SCHOOLS IN SESSION WITHOUT TEXTBOOKS AND CAPITATION GRANT

Public Basic Schools in Ghana reopened on Tuesday, 13th September. This is the second week into the reopening of the third term for the 2021/2022 academic year. However, the issues of textbooks and payment of the capitation grant remain unresolved:

1) Textbooks: Checks indicate that basic schools are yet to received the long awaited textbooks. This is in spite of the fact that the Minister for Education promised and reiterated that the books will be available by the time schools resumed, when he appeared before the Parliamentary Select Committee on Government Assurances a few weeks ago.

Even before the Minister’s appearance before the committee, he and his Deputy told the nation via various media interactions that the books were being moved to the regions from various printing houses for onward distribution to the schools. They assured that pupils will have textbooks when schools reopen. Well schools are in session, so why are the books not in the classrooms as promised?

2) Capitation Grant: The capitation grant is in arrears for six tranches, which constitutes six terms. Information from heads of basic schools confirm that not even a pesewa has been paid for the 2021/2022 academic year.

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Before Parliament went on recess, I asked the Minister for Education to tell the nation how much was owed schools in respect of the grant, and when the arrears will be paid, on the floor of Parliament. He agreed that government owed schools the capitation grant. He added that Ghc 14 million had been made available to pay some of the arrears. The legitimate questions to ask are; a) where did the Ghc 14 million go, and, b) how are schools expected to function effectively and efficiently without the grant?

The Minister for Education must address these matters with dispatch. Our basic schools need the textbooks and the capitation grant now.

Dr. Clement Apaak
M.P, Builsa South and Deputy Ranking Member On Education Committee of Parliament

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