The Ghana Education Service has directed that Head Heads of Public Kindergarten and Primary Schools as well as Junior and Senior High schools to ensure the safety of students.

This comes on the back of three teacher unions who have declared a nationwide strike effective March 20, 2024.

The unions are the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT).

However, in a directive, the GES says all public schools should be opened despite the strike.

“Heads of Public Kindergarten and Primary Schools as well as Junior and Senior High Schools have directed through the Regional and District Directors to mobilize their management teams to ensure the safety and well-being of all students in schools,” GES stated.

Attached is the full letter

The Ministry of Education has vehemently denied claims of spending GH¢68.5 million on photocopying past questions for candidates of the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE).

The Ministry of Education allegedly incurred a cost of GH¢33.6 million in 2020 and over GH¢34 million in 2021 for this purpose, both through single-source procurement.

The Minister of Education Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, disclosed on Monday, March 4, in Parliament that the government spent the money to photocopy past questions for SHS students to help them prepare adequately for the WASSCE.

According to him, the government procured the past questions from Messrs Kingdom Books and Stationery at a unit price of GH¢78.00 during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic as part of its efforts to help students ahead of the WASSCE.

However, in a Facebook post, the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry, Kwasi Kwarteng, said, “It is crucial to note that the mentioned amounts were not for photocopying but rather for the printing, supply, and distribution of the revision books. Therefore, the claim that GH¢78 was spent on photocopying a page in the booklet is inaccurate and misleading.”

Read below Kwasi Kwarteng’s Facebook post 

Re: Clarification on Alleged GH¢68.5 million Spending on WASSCE ‘Pasco’ Photocopying

It is crucial to note that the mentioned amounts were not for photocopying but rather for the printing, supply, and distribution of the revision books. Therefore, the claim that GH¢78 was spent on photocopying a page in the booklet is inaccurate and misleading.

In 2019, the funds were utilized to engage Messrs. Aki-Ola Publications Company Limited and Messrs. Kingdom Books and Stationery Company Limited for the supply of revision books (study guides) for Senior High Schools. The purchase included 207,000 copies of study guides for West African Senior High Schools, consisting of past questions and answers, at an estimated cost of GH¢40 each.

Additionally, 361,755 copies of study guides for SHS, comprising WAEC past papers, suggested answers, and chief examiners’ reports for core subjects, were procured from Kingdom Books and Stationery Company at a cost of GH¢75 per booklet.

Subsequently, in 2021, the Ministry engaged Messrs. Kingdom Books and Stationery Limited for the printing, supply and distribution of 446,957 revision books for SHS for ghc78 comprising of WAEC Past questions, Chief Examiner’s Reports and possible answers. 446,954 copies of updated editions of the study.

The flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has criticized the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) for its failure to supply textbooks to students, years after revising the curriculum for basic education.

He argues that this failure is hindering educational equity.

Speaking at the Ghana National Association of Private Schools Week launch under the theme, “2024 Elections: The Private Education Manifesto,” Mr. Mahama voiced apprehension regarding the insufficient provision of school materials for basic students.

“I believe I am who I am because my father gave me a good foundation to attend Achimota Primary School to become what I have become.”

“But you cannot say so for a child in the rural school who probably doesn’t get the same opportunity. And so we need to look at the equity in the education system and see how we can improve investment in poor rural schools. Some of them have no chairs and curriculum has changed. Four years now, the curriculum has changed yet no textbooks are available for students and teachers,” he quizzed.

Stakeholders within the educational sector have over the years been appealing to the government to make textbooks available for students and teachers to enhance teaching and learning activities.

In response, the Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, in an earlier statement mentioned that there were enough textbooks and copies for all regions and the ministry was working with the Regional Heads of Stores to correct the deficit.