Group petitions Akufo-Addo to provide private schools with stimulus package
An education consultancy, Neogenics Education Group, has petitioned the government to support private schools in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak as all schools have been forced to close down.
The group has urged the government to consider private schools and provide them with an economic and financial stimulus.
The group has argued that over 50% of private schools in Ghana were likely to fold as a result of the adverse impact of the COVID-19 crisis.
The group’s case is anchored on the fact that the 2018 World Bank report suggested that private schools constituted over 30% of education provision at the primary school level in Ghana.
The Neogenics Education Group, in a petition signed by its Lead Consultant, Grant Bulmuo, maintained that the private sector’s contribution could not be overstated.
“One can arguably state that private schools in Ghana contribute to over 60% of quality education delivery at the Pre-SHS level.
“In spite of their immense contribution to the total Ghana provision, a ‘vast majority’ of private schools do not have ‘huge reserves’ to contain unexpected contingencies like COVID-19 and the government closures of schools,” excerpts of the statement read.
According to the group, “80% of private school proprietors are unable to meet basic salaries of teachers and office staff in coronavirus times.”
It added that “almost all private schools are facing the challenge of retrieving arrears of fees from previous term and payments due this third term by parents. 67% revealed that parents are unwilling to pay outstanding fees from the previous term.”
The group, in the petition, has, therefore, urged President Akufo-Addo to come to the aid of the private schools and provide them with some relief packages.
Read details of the petition