The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has outlined the party’s comprehensive strategy to reset the education sector and enhance quality outcomes, should it win power.
At the party’s sectoral press briefing on its 2024 manifesto, Dr. Clement Apaak, who addressed the media, emphasised the transformative power of education and the party’s commitment to revitalising Ghana’s educational system.
He described the current education system as having suffered severe neglect and distortions under the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government.
The NDC highlighted several critical issues plaguing the education sector, including infrastructural deficits, erratic academic calendars, inconsistent curricula, inadequate teaching and learning materials and poor industrial relations, all of which have resulted in declining educational outcomes at all levels.
According to its 2024 manifesto, the next NDC government, under the leadership of John Dramani Mahama, will focus on improving teacher welfare and professional development.
Key initiatives include; prioritising timely promotions and remuneration for teachers; launching the “Teacher Dabr3” Project to provide accommodation within new school buildings.
Also, the party will introduce a 20% special allowance for teachers in rural and underserved communities; abolishing the Teacher Licensure Examination and integrating the licensing process into the final year exams for trainees.
Others include scrapping the mandatory national service for teacher trainee graduates and restoring automatic employment for newly qualified teachers; partnering with teacher unions to establish the Government Assisted Mortgage Scheme (GAMOS) to help teachers own homes and a vehicle acquisition scheme.
The party also plans to establish a College of Education in the Afram Plains to address the shortage of professional teachers in the region.
Basic Education Reforms
To strengthen early childhood and basic education, the NDC says it will launch the ‘Bright Beginnings Initiative’ to revitalise early childhood education; integrate early childhood education into basic education and establish a Department for Early Childhood Development; implement a ‘Furniture for All Initiative’ and improve the pupil-to-textbook ratio; address the issue of schools under trees and rehabilitate dilapidated buildings; introduce the ‘SmartStart Curriculum’ for integrating STEM, coding and digital literacy into basic education; enhance capitation and feeding grants, promote digital literacy and encourage solar energy use in schools.
Secondary Education Enhancements
The NDC intends to abolish the double-track system and restore a stable academic calendar. Other plans include: an emergency infrastructure drive to complete abandoned E-blocks and expand SHS and TVET facilities; ring-fencing a percentage of oil proceeds to fund secondary education; decentralising procurement processes to improve food quality and quantity in schools; providing laptops/tablets for SHS students and extending Free SHS to private schools; reforming the school selection system to ensure merit-based placements and expanding Science Resource Centres across regions.
The party also promises to establish regional TVET Centres of Excellence and implement a ‘National Apprenticeship Programme’ to promote self-employment among young people.
Tertiary Education Commitments
Key promises for tertiary education include: implementing a ‘No-Academic-Fees’ policy for first-year students in all public tertiary institutions; providing free tertiary education for persons with disabilities; expanding student accommodation through public-private partnerships (PPPs) and offering diverse funding options for trainees; revamping the Student Loan Trust Fund and restoring GETFUND to its original educational financing mandate; establishing public universities in newly-created regions and improving subventions to public universities.
Conclusion
Dr. Apaak concluded by urging Ghanaians to vote for John Dramani Mahama, emphasizing his proven track record in education and his commitment to ensuring that every Ghanaian child receives quality education.
“Help us to rescue and reset our education for our collective good,” he stated, calling on the electorate to support the NDC’s vision for a transformed education sector.
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