A second chance for school drop-outs in Ghana
27 February 2008
Related pages: Ghana
country profile | Millennium
Development Goal 2: Education
 A
scheme to get more children into primary school is changing the face of
education in Ghana. Government grants, supported by DFID, have replaced extra
school charges, meaning that not only is tuition free, so are textbooks, sports
lessons, and classroom facilities.
With parents only required to provide uniforms and writing materials, enrolment
has shot up. Children who dropped out of school are also returning.
Eleven-year-old Naomi Kwampa is one of these.
Too poor to stay in class
Naomi first stepped into Primary 1 in September 2001 at the age of six. But,
after barely a term, she abandoned schooling. She claims that her mother, a
single parent, couldn't afford shoes for the 6 kilometre daily hike from their
home in Akatsi-Abor to school near Madina (a suburb of Accra).
Naomi's mother, a small-trader, explains that, before she could keep her daughter in education, she had to take her out of
school to earn money for essentials like shoes and a school badge. For four years, Naomi was in work when she should have
been in class.
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Rushing back to school
In 2005, the Capitation Grant Scheme was introduced, and, at long last, Naomi
was able to return to school. Now in Class 1 at La Nkwantanan Primary School,
her textbooks are provided by the Government, and, with no fees or additional
levies to pay, her mother has been able to pay for shoes and writing materials.
Many of Naomi's classmates have also returned to education after years of
absence. Of the 60 primary pupils enrolled, 15 are over 11 years of age, and,
unsurprisingly, girls far outnumber boys.
 The
school's head teacher describes the impact of the grant scheme: "Parents see
this as a benefit from the Government that they must take advantage of. A few still
show up well into the academic year insisting their children be admitted. Others
ask for free uniforms."
Although uniforms must still be bought by parents, both young and old have
seized the new opportunity with relish. Naomi's mother is keen to see her
daughter do well and often visits the school to check on her progress. And Naomi
is very happy to be back in class, gets on well with her teacher, and hopes one
day to become a nurse.
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Pushing for progress
As successful as the scheme has been, the increase in pupil numbers has meant more work for
teachers. "Instead of 35 pupils I now have 60, and there are no incentives to
take these on. And just look at the facilities," remarks Naomi’s teacher,
pointing to holes in the classroom floor, a leaking roof and inadequate desks.
Meanwhile, the head teacher is swamped with accounting work. "The auditors are
coming this week," she says, "and I must get my accounts and receipts ready.
This capitation policy is good, but it's not easy. It's brought so much work!”
However, both are optimistic that improvements will come with time.
It is now crucial that the progress made is sustained. Thanks to the scheme,
enrolment rates in primary schools have climbed significantly over the last few
years. If all Ghana's children are to be in school by 2015,
a continued commitment is needed from all those involved in delivering
education.
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Key facts
- DFID provides funding of £10 million per year to the education
sector (in addition to general budget support) to assist the Government
in the implementation of the Education Strategic Plan.
- Under the Capitation Grant Scheme, the Government of Ghana provides
the equivalent of about £1.57 per child, per year, to cover levies
previously paid by parents. The amount of money transferred to each
school is based on the number of pupils enrolled.
- The initial outlay for the first year of the scheme was £5.7
million. In 2007, the Government released the equivalent of £7.47
million to pupils nationwide.
- The Government is providing more infrastructural facilities
(constructing more classrooms, providing furniture) in all districts to
address some of the challenges arising from the introduction of the
scheme.
- Gross primary enrolment figures increased from 86% in 2005/06 to 91%
in 2006/07.
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