By King Amoah.
Save Ghana Movement an Accra – based Non Governmental Organization ( NGO) aimed at sharing and contributing towards the development of the nation has disclosed that Ghana’s basic education is on the verge of collapse as a result of alleged bad policies and the authority’s inability to correct them.
The organization indicates that the country’s basic schools especially those in the rural areas are severely deteriorating yet, the leaders and politicians see nothing wrong with it as they prefer training their children in the foreign schools.
In an exclusive telephone interview with the leader of the Movement, Mr. Robert Andzie Anash from Accra the basic schools have been continuously neglected and manipulated by our political leaders, allegations he said, have been impacting negatively on the youth as they grow to become the future leaders of the country.
According to the Movement since 1992, successive governments have prioritized the advancement of Secondary and Tertiary institutions while neglecting the crucial foundations which are the basic education schools.
The term “basic” he said suggests importance and necessity, while “Secondary” implies something that can be addressed later.
Yet, our educational infrastructure hardly reflect this understanding, stressing that basic schools, where the foundational skills of reading and writing are taught lack essential facilities, such as libraries, science laboratories, adequate seating capacities among others..
He indicated that other Basic schools with the aforementioned facilities hardly maintain them due to financial constraints.
Ansah reiterated that the disparity in facility between basic schools and the secondary/tertiary institutions are serious, stressing that while the later enjoy well equipped facilities, the former struggles to provide basic necessities unknowing to the leaders’ neglect, it undermines the development of young minds and hampers their ability to realize their potentials.
It’s heartbreaking to some pupils in some rural areas who studying under trees and shreds.
Save Ghana Movement insists that the prioritization of the secondary and tertiary institutions over the basic schools are not only shortsighted, but also detrimental to the nation’s future. This is clearly seen in most governments and political leaders policies that are presented to the people during elections showing little to no interest in our basic education which is the foundation of Ghana’s education system.
It is disheartening that private schools often employing unqualified teachers are favored over government schools with well trained qualified facilitators, the Movement pointed out.
Mr. Robert Ansah noted that the root of this issue lies in our collective failure to recognize the critical role of basic schools in shaping the future of our nation.
When teachers from the basic schools are neglected they merely raise concerns about salary increments and not about the dire needs for resources to nurture young minds.
Furthermore, the Movement explained that government’s focus on secondary and tertiary education only stemed on political gains viewing that by neglecting primary junior high schools, where the majority of students are below voting age, they prioritize short-term electoral gains over the long-term development of the nation.
The Movement posited that the neglect of primary and junior high schools in Ghana’s educational system is a grave injustice to the future generations and indeed the the current administration needs to to rise up to its mandate and correct the ills in the basic education to enhance the educational reforms in the country.
Can you build a mansion on a weak foundation, Mr. Ansah questioned. Save Ghana! For a Better Future.
For details bell the CEO of the Movement Mr Robert Andzie Ansah on 0243969790
