Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced that the government is set to significantly increase investment in educational infrastructure over the coming years, with a strong emphasis on basic education.
Speaking at the 21st Annual Education World Forum (EWF) in London, the minister stated that a key part of this investment would go towards eliminating the over 5,000 schools currently operating under trees across the country.
“Access to quality education with improved learning outcomes—that is the vision of President Mahama’s government,” he said. “We aim to invest more in basic education.”
Mr. Iddrisu noted that, historically, education funding has disproportionately favored senior high and tertiary education, but a new policy direction will now focus on strengthening the foundation of the system.
“If you assess our basic education funding over the last decade, you’ll see a proportional expenditure weighted in favor of free senior high school at the expense of basic and tertiary education,” he explained.
“There is now a policy shift, and that shift championed by President Mahama prioritizes basic education. The Constitution guarantees free and compulsory basic education, yet we still have over 5,000 schools without basic physical infrastructure.”
The minister emphasized the need for inclusive access to education, highlighting the high dropout rate that continues to affect many children.
“We have about 400,000 students dropping out of school, 57 per cent of whom need targeted support. We must correct this and ensure that every Ghanaian child has access to continuous, lifelong education.”
He called for global partnerships to help improve access and learning outcomes, acknowledging support from development partners like the World Bank.
“Our work as government is to improve learning outcomes. With support from the World Bank, we’ve made some progress, but there remains a national challenge in literacy and foundational learning.”
“That’s why our policy focus will be on aggressively expanding infrastructure for basic education. In the next few years, we should be able to say that every Ghanaian child has the opportunity to attend school and to learn in a safe and secure environment.”
Beyond basic education, the minister also stressed the importance of skills training and technical education to enhance employability among the youth.
“Will they be responsible citizens of this country? That’s the question,” he said. “We must cultivate a new era of improved skills acquisition. Technical and vocational education must no longer be seen as an alternative for those who couldn’t go to university—it must be a viable, respected pathway to economic success.”
The 21st Annual Education World Forum, held in London under the theme “Building Stronger, Bolder, and Better Education Together,” brought together education leaders and policymakers from around the world to strengthen partnerships and foster international cooperation in the education sector.
Minister Iddrisu also used the opportunity to engage with key donor partners, reaffirming Ghana’s commitment to advancing quality and inclusive education.
The post Haruna Iddrisu promises increased investment in education infrastructure, with emphasis on basic education first appeared on 3News.
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