Member of Parliament for Builsa South, Dr. Clement Apaak, warns the government against the delay in the payment of capitation grants to various public Basic schools.
According to the legislator, the delay in the release of money is gradually collapsing the system of public elementary schools.
In an interview with Citi News, Dr. Clement Apaak said the government must do whatever it takes to avert the situation.
“This is a grant that primary school principals use to purchase basic supplies such as chalk, registers, and basic equipment such as doors and windows. So when the government does not provide this, the principals of the primary schools are forced to either borrow money to keep the schools running or take some of these items and services on loans. In fact, this is collapsing the public elementary school system, and I think that is most unfortunate. The government must do what is needed,” said the MP for Builsa South.
The Executive Secretary of AfricaEducation Watch, Kofi Asare, on Sunday, January 1, 2023, also called on the Ministry of Finance to release full funds to schools.
“I don’t see anything positive about the capitation subsidy in 2023 because if you look at the goods and services budget line of the Ministry of Finance where the capitation subsidy is actually funded, the reason why the subsidy is delayed is because the Ministry of Finance is not releasing the allocated goods and services to the Ghana Education service and the Ministry of Education,” said the Executive Secretary of Africa Education Watch.
He was skeptical about improving capitation grants and complained about the government’s decision to cut grants.
“Last year 2022, basic education was allocated GH¢2.92 million in terms of goods and services, capitation grants and teacher training resources, catering grants for special schools, a subsidiary of BECE but when the minister went to parliament to read the budget for 2023, less than 19% was paid out. Less than 20 percent has been paid out so far.
