Don’t brand public basic schools in NPP colours – Apaak cautions govt

Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, Deputy Ranking Member on the Education Committee of Parliament, has advised the Akufo-Addo administration to refrain from repainting public basic schools in the colours of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Despite reports suggesting that the government intends to repaint existing public basic schools from brown and yellow to blue and white, the Ministry of Education clarified in a statement that the initiative is solely for newly constructed basic schools.

The Ministry also confirmed that there are no plans to change the uniforms in all public schools.

In a statement, the Builsa South MP urged the government to allocate resources to address the pressing issues facing the education sector.

“We call on Ghanaians to join us in resisting this needless initiative in the collective interest of the State of the Republic of Ghana. If the Ministry of Education has funds, advisedly, those funds should go to address the long list of challenges narrated by Heads of public basic schools.”

He expressed concern that the repainting of public basic schools in NPP colours could be a means for the government to award contracts to cronies.

“Besides the overt attempt to brand public basic schools in NPP colours, the only other reason is to create an avenue to award sole-sourced contracts to families, friends, and party members.”

Read below the full statement by Dr Apaak

CEASE, DESIST FROM BRANDING GHANA PUBLIC BASIC SCHOOLS IN NPP COLOURS

The Minister for Education should cease forthwith, and with immediate effect, desist from any further rebranding public basic schools in Ghana in NPP colours.

How can he, at this time of economic crisis in Ghana, be thinking of wasting public resources to repaint public schools in Blue and White colours; and introduce wearing of Blue and White uniforms in public schools, when 1 million plus public basic school pupils have no access to furniture?

Has the Minister forgotten, what he told Parliament, during his last visit? In his report to Parliament, it has been captured, that only 65% of textbooks have been supplied thus far?

Maybe he needs a reminder. May I remind him, that capitation grants are still in arrears for the equivalent of eight terms?

How could rebranding be a priority in the face of these challenges facing public education in Ghana? See below, a more detailed list of shared challenges affecting teaching and learning in public basic schools in Ghana by a Headteacher of a basic school:-

1. Delay in releases of meagre Capitation Grant (10 cedis per head per annum), which is in arrears for eight tranches ( equivalent to 8 Terms);

2. Infrastructural deficit, especially poor toilet facilities;

3. Lack of textbooks from KG to JHS: more than three years after the introduction of reforms;

4. No sample questions for 2024 BECE Candidates (the first batch of the New Reform);

5. Lack of furniture for both teachers and students;

6. Lack of security personnel to protect properties of schools – leading to rampant theft cases;

7. Unpaid Utility bills (Electricity & Water) leading to disconnections;

8. Schools in urban areas face the uphill task of disposing refuse, because no money to pay waste collectors.

According to the Head Teacher, basic school administrators are struggling to manage the affairs of schools, because of inadequate funding, neglect and delay in the releases of the capitation grants, etc.

These are issues Hon. Yaw Adutwum should be worried about, not the colours of school blocks and school uniforms. Spending public time and resources painting schools in Blue and White, and introducing Blue and White uniforms are clearly misplaced priorities.

Besides the overt attempt to brand public basic schools in NPP colours, the only other reason is to create an avenue to award sole sourced contracts to families, friends, and party members.

We call on Ghanaians to join us in resisting this needless initiative in the collective interest of the State of the Republic of Ghana. If the Ministry of Education has funds, advisedly, those funds should go to address the long list of challenges narrated by Heads of public basic schools.

Signed

Dr. Clement Abas Apaak
MP, Builsa South and Deputy Ranking Member on the Education Committee of Parliament

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