Angel Carbonu calls for national standards to guide school infrastructure

Former National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) President, Angel Carbonu, has urged Ghana to establish clear and enforceable national standards for school infrastructure amidst ongoing challenges in senior high school (SHS) placement. Speaking on Adom FM Dwaso Nsem, Carbonu pointed out that while SHS students receive significant attention, especially during issues like WASSCE malpractice, many basic schools operate in poor conditions.

He cited dilapidated buildings, broken furniture, and inadequate sanitation facilities as common problems in basic schools. Carbonu questioned how students in such environments could perform well in national examinations, asking, "How can a child in such a school learn and pass an exam?" He emphasized that before governments can be held accountable for education delivery, Ghana must first define acceptable school standards.

Carbonu also highlighted the need for facilities specifically catering to girls, noting that their unique needs should be integrated into school standards. He proposed that governments should set annual targets for school infrastructure and facility improvement, providing citizens with a yardstick to evaluate government performance.

This broader conversation is timely as the government grapples with issues surrounding the placement of Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) graduates into SHSs.