As Ghana’s free education policy continues to expand access to secondary education, the pressure on existing infrastructure has become a critical concern for policymakers.
During a recent tour of Mawuli School and OLA Senior High School in Ho, the Vice Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education, Mr. Joseph Kwame Kumah, called for a long-term, 75-year national plan to address the growing challenges facing the sector.
Mr. Kumah, who is also the Member of Parliament for Kintampo North, highlighted the urgent need for a comprehensive strategy that extends beyond short-term political cycles. He noted that rapid population growth is stretching educational facilities to their limits, with many schools grappling with overcrowded dormitories, insufficient classrooms, and a lack of basic teaching resources.
Infrastructure Strain Threatens Quality Education
“We are seeing overcrowded dormitories, classrooms without enough furniture, and students without essential learning tools,” Mr. Kumah told the Ghana News Agency. “If we continue to pour our entire education budget into feeding and clothing students without investing in infrastructure, we are heading toward a crisis.”
The committee’s nationwide tour, which began at Kimbu Senior High School in Accra and extended through parts of the Greater Accra, Volta, and Eastern Regions, has exposed the stark realities on the ground. Many schools are struggling to accommodate the surge in student numbers, with some first-year students reportedly lacking even the basic digital learning materials promised under the free education initiative.
Balancing Access with Quality
Mr. Kumah argued that while the free education policy is a significant social investment, it requires long-term financial planning and infrastructure development to remain viable. He urged a national conversation about potential cost-cutting measures, such as reducing boarding intake in favor of expanding day schools, to ease the financial burden on the education system.
“Even wealthy countries would struggle to sustain a free education model without proper infrastructure,” he cautioned, emphasizing that any future reforms must balance the need for access with the capacity to deliver quality education.
Calls for Immediate Action
School management teams at Mawuli School and OLA Senior High School also appealed for urgent intervention to complete stalled infrastructure projects, including dormitories and classroom blocks, to address their immediate needs.
As the committee continues its tour, the conversation around Ghana’s educational future is becoming increasingly urgent, highlighting the need for a coordinated, long-term strategy to secure the gains made under the free education policy.
