The government has officially earmarked GH¢20 million to facilitate the disbursement of capitation grants for public basic schools across the entirety of the country.
This pivotal financial injection is part of an ongoing initiative to phase out all fees traditionally paid by parents in public basic schools.
The overarching goal is to not only bolster accessibility to education but also to provide substantial support for the ongoing efforts to improve school performance on various fronts.
The capitation grant system has been instrumental in removing financial barriers that could hinder students’ access to basic education. However, a significant challenge arose as payments of these grants fell into arrears for a period of two years.
The delay in disbursements prompted expressions of concern from the Minority in Parliament and various stakeholders within the education sector. They argued that these delays were having a detrimental impact on the overall quality of basic-level education.
Addressing these concerns on the floor of Parliament, the Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, provided insights into the steps taken to rectify the situation.
This proactive approach by the government not only addresses the immediate concerns raised by stakeholders but also signifies a commitment to ensuring the sustained enhancement of the educational landscape for students at the foundational level across the nation.
He announced, “Mr. Speaker, capitation grant arrears of GH¢15 million were disbursed to schools in May 2023 and the remaining arrears of last year amounting to GH¢20 million have been released by the Ministry of Finance and are currently being processed for disbursement. In addition, GH¢4.2 million of this year’s capitation is also being processed for disbursement.”