Education spending must shift towards foundational learning – Haruna Iddrisu

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has voiced concerns over the amount of public funds allocated to secondary education in Ghana, advocating for a shift in focus towards foundational learning at the basic education level. Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile, Mr Iddrisu highlighted that excessive spending on secondary education is one of the setbacks left by the previous administration.

He emphasized that education investment should begin with the foundation, where children learn essential literacy and numeracy skills necessary for their future academic success. According to the Minister, aligning resources and investments with foundational learning worldwide is crucial for improving children's prospects of succeeding in their education.

He underscored that a child who masters literacy skills is more likely to succeed in their academic journey. Mr Iddrisu also pointed out that the government spends approximately GH¢3.4 billion on the school feeding programme, which he linked to the broader investment in education through the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy.

While acknowledging the importance of providing free secondary education, he stressed the necessity of striking a better balance in resource allocation across the education sector. Mr Iddrisu praised President John Mahama’s administration, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for their efforts in mobilizing resources to support the sector.

He noted that GETFund is now equipped to mobilize adequate resources for education, with the government and the Ministry of Finance's backing. Mr Iddrisu concluded by asserting that Ghana’s education priorities should focus not only on expanding access to secondary education but also on ensuring that children acquire the fundamental skills required to benefit from education at all subsequent levels.