Ghana: Private Schools In Volta Region Entice Pupils

Private basic schools are becoming attractive to parents and pupils in the Volta Region and as a result many public schools are not meeting enrollment figures needed to attract investment in infrastructure. Joseph Amenowode, the Volta Regional Minister, said the situation was a challenge to both teachers and community leaders now that the government was providing free school uniforms, text-books and exercise books as well as one free meal for pupils in an effort to improve enrollments in public schools.

He said poor performance by public schools in the Basic Education Certificate Examination accounted for parents’ preference for private schools where results were far better even though their teachers were untrained and some being retired trained teachers. Amenowode appealed to the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) to help get teachers in public schools to improve on performance. Togbe Adom X of Agate said his elders were equally worried at the poor enrollment in public schools in the community.