04/06/2026
Ghanaโs future is built in basic schools, yet the Government of Ghana and the Ghana Education Service continue to neglect the foundations of teaching and learning at that level. For years, headmasters serving under GES have raised the same concern: the capitation grant is grossly inadequate. According to school heads, the government pays only 2 Ghana cedis per student per term as financial assistance to both the student and the school. That amount cannot buy chalk, repair a broken desk, or stock a library.
With 2 cedis per term, headmasters are forced to operate schools on empty. Teaching and learning materials are lacking, infrastructure is deteriorating, and supervision is weak. Teachers are left to manage overcrowded classrooms without basic resources, while pupils learn in conditions that undermine concentration and performance. This is not a funding gap; it is policy neglect.
Basic education is the bedrock of national development. When the state allocates only 2 cedis per child per term, it signals that the learning process of millions of Ghanaian children is not a priority. The consequences show up in poor BECE results, high dropout rates, and a widening gap between private and public school outcomes.
The Education Ministry, Parliament, GES, and all education stakeholders must treat this as urgent. Capitation grants must be reviewed and increased to a realistic figure that reflects the true cost of running basic schools. Budget allocations should prioritize classrooms, textbooks, furniture, and teacher support. Accountability measures must ensure funds reach schools on time and are used for learning.
Ghana cannot build a knowledge economy on 2 cedis per child. If we want better outcomes, we must fund basic education like it matters. The time for serious consideration is now.
Ghana Education Service Ministry of Education