The Ministry of Education in Ghana, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, has announced plans to undertake a major procurement of furniture for selected Senior High Schools (SHSs) across the country. This initiative aims to support schools with adequate classroom infrastructure but insufficient furniture to transition from the double-track system to a single-track arrangement. According to Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, some schools have enough classrooms and other facilities to accommodate students under a single track but are unable to do so because of shortages of desks and other essential furniture.
During a surprise monitoring visit to selected schools in the Western Region, including Tarkwa Senior High School, Mr. Iddrisu identified inadequate furniture as one of the factors keeping some schools on the double-track arrangement despite having sufficient classroom space. He noted that addressing the gap would immediately increase the number of students the schools can accommodate at a time. The Minister made the disclosure as part of efforts to assess school conditions and identify challenges affecting teaching and learning.
The planned procurement is expected to complement existing infrastructure and support the government’s efforts to improve access to quality secondary education while progressively reducing reliance on the double-track system. Mr. Iddrisu explained that there are many schools that, if provided with furniture, can be taken off the double track. The government had identified schools where furniture shortages limited their ability to admit and accommodate students under a single-track system.
The double-track system was introduced to address the high demand for secondary education in Ghana. However, the system has been criticized for its challenges, including inadequate infrastructure and resources. The government's plan to procure furniture is expected to help alleviate some of these challenges and provide a better learning environment for students. The initiative is also expected to increase the number of students that can be accommodated in schools.
The Education Minister's visit to schools in the Western Region was part of efforts to assess the implementation of the government's education policies. The visit also provided an opportunity for the Minister to interact with students, teachers, and school administrators to identify challenges and gather feedback. Mr. Iddrisu emphasized the importance of providing quality education and ensuring that students have access to adequate resources and infrastructure.
The procurement of furniture is part of the government's efforts to improve the quality of education in Ghana. The government has also announced plans to recruit 10,000 teachers next year to address staffing gaps in schools. Additionally, the government plans to upgrade 20 Category B schools to Category A and build 10 new schools to increase access to secondary education.
The government's initiatives in the education sector have been welcomed by stakeholders, who believe that the plans will help improve the quality of education in Ghana. However, some stakeholders have also expressed concerns about the implementation of the plans and the need for adequate resources to support the initiatives. The government has assured stakeholders that it is committed to providing quality education and ensuring that students have access to adequate resources and infrastructure.
Key points
- The Ghanaian government plans to procure furniture for selected Senior High Schools to help them transition from the double-track system to a single-track arrangement.
- The initiative aims to support schools with adequate classroom infrastructure but insufficient furniture.
- The procurement of furniture is part of the government's efforts to improve access to quality secondary education and progressively reduce reliance on the double-track system.
