Naa Ali Seidu Pelpuo Yelmaana, the Paramount Chief of Busa Traditional Area in the Wala Traditional Council, has observed that the over politicization of the education sector in Ghana is adversely affecting the quality of education delivery.
He said even though education is a key tool for national development, its foundation, is poorly resourced.
Naa Yelmaana made the observed in Wa during the 30th National Conference of Directors of Education.
The conference brought together all District, Municipal, Metropolitan and Regional Directors of Education including directors serving in various capacities within the Ghana Education Service.
Naa Yelmaana said there is increasing demand for improved educational infrastructure and other resources at the basic level, particularly in rural areas.
“Basic education has never had the resources it requires to produce quality results.
As a result of the ever increasing number of children in the country, there is the need to increase the number of schools to accommodate them”, he added.
Naa Yelmaana expressed worry that some children sit under trees, lie on the floor or risk their lives crossing rivers daily to access basic education.
Mrs Bernice Ofori, the President of the Conference of Directors of Education, expressed concern about the government’s skewed attention to higher levels to the neglect of basic level.
“There is a worrying trend whereas the Ministry focus has turned to the higher levels of education to the neglect of the deterioration of the first cycle basic schools since the implementation of the free senior high school”, Mrs Ofori added.
Mrs Ofori said free education will be meaningless if the foundation of education is weak.