Eduwatch Praises Schooling Financing Gains but Warns Delays, Trainer Gaps May Derail Reforms

Introduction

The trajectory of educational reform in Ghana has reached a critical juncture, marked by significant fiscal commitments and strategic planning, yet threatened by operational bottlenecks. According to a recent comprehensive assessment by the education policy think tank Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch), the government has successfully translated campaign promises into concrete policies. However, the path to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) by 2030 is fraught with risks. The core message is one of cautious optimism: while financing gains are laudable, delays in fund disbursement and critical teacher recruitment gaps could derail the very reforms designed to uplift the sector. This analysis explores the nuances of the Eduwatch report, dissecting the interplay between budget allocations, policy implementation, and the human resource challenges that currently define the landscape of Ghanaian education.

Key Points

Background

The current educational landscape in Ghana is shaped by the convergence of electoral mandates and long-term development goals. Eduwatch describes the nation as being in a “decisive phase” of its educational reform journey. This phase is characterized by the integration of campaign promises into the Education Strategic Plan (ESP) and the Education Sector Medium Term Development Plan (2026–2029). The objective is singular and ambitious: to align national efforts with the global agenda of achieving Quality Education for all by 2030 (SDG 4).

Central to this background is the National Education Forum, a landmark initiative designed to build consensus. By incorporating inputs from political parties, civil society organizations (CSOs), and funding stakeholders, the Forum aimed to end the historical cycle of policy fragmentation. Eduwatch notes that this inclusive governance approach represents a positive shift toward evidence-based decision-making. However, the structural integrity of these plans relies heavily on the financial architecture—specifically the GETFund (Ghana Education Trust Fund) and the national budget—which has seen unprecedented growth but requires efficient flow to be effective.

Analysis

Eduwatch’s report offers a dual narrative: one of robust financial input and one of systemic operational failures. Analyzing these components reveals where the education sector truly stands.

The Impact of GETFund Uncapping and Budget Allocations

The uncapping of the GETFund stands as the most significant fiscal intervention in recent years. By unlocking an estimated GH¢6 billion, the government signaled a strong commitment to moving beyond rhetoric to reality. This resulted in the education sector’s share of the national budget rising by over 30% year-on-year (from GH¢32 billion to GH¢42 billion). This influx is not merely a number; it represents the capacity to fund infrastructure, provide learning materials, and sustain the Free SHS initiative. The specific GH¢3.5 billion earmarked for Free SHS has stabilized the program, specifically by addressing the perennial issue of food supply chains through revised GETFund legislation.

Equity and Social Protection Measures

True educational reform cannot exist without addressing the barriers that prevent marginalized groups from attending school. Eduwatch highlights the allocation of 22% of the budget to basic education—the highest in four years—as a positive signal. Furthermore, the rollout of free sanitary pads and the increase in school feeding expenditure from GH¢1.50 to GH¢2.00 per child are critical interventions. These measures directly combat truant behavior and dropout rates among adolescent girls and children from low-income households, thereby fostering a more equitable learning environment.

The Teacher Recruitment Crisis

Despite the financial gains, the human resource pillar of the education system is crumbling. Eduwatch’s warning regarding the absence of teacher recruitment in 2025 is a red flag. The teacher deficit is not uniform; it is most acute in rural and disadvantaged communities. This creates a two-tier education system where urban centers may remain stable while rural schools face total collapse due to understaffing. The lack of new teachers exacerbates the student-teacher ratio, leading to larger class sizes and increased likelihood of student dropouts and learning disruptions.

Bureaucratic Bottlenecks and Fiscal Caps

A paradox exists within the current system: there is money available, but it is not flowing efficiently. Eduwatch points to severe delays in the release of funds and procurement bottlenecks, particularly for projects funded through the Consolidated Fund and the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF). This administrative inertia stalls the construction of the 261 new school projects mentioned earlier.

Additionally, expenditure caps imposed on World Bank-financed projects, intended to ensure fiscal discipline, are having a counter-productive effect. By capping expenditure, the government is inadvertently slowing down implementation in high-priority areas like skills innovation tools and foundational literacy programs.

The Governance Void: The National Education Forum

Perhaps the most concerning aspect of the analysis is the status of the National Education Forum report. Six months after submission, the document remains hidden from the public. In a democracy, transparency is the bedrock of trust. Eduwatch warns that this delay undermines the “inclusive, evidence-based decision-making” the government claims to champion. Without a public White Paper to outline the government’s official stance, stakeholders are left in limbo, unsure if the consensus built during the Forum will ever translate into policy.

Practical Advice

Based on the Eduwatch analysis, specific actions are required to bridge the gap between policy intent and educational reality. These recommendations are targeted at policymakers, educational administrators, and civil society.

Strategies for Stakeholders

For the Ministry of Education and Government:

• Expedite Fund Disbursement: Implement an automated or streamlined release mechanism for the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) and Consolidated Fund allocations to prevent project stagnation.
• Urgent Recruitment Drive: Prioritize the immediate deployment of teachers to rural areas in the first quarter of the year. Consider incentives (housing or hardship allowances) to make rural postings attractive.
• Publicize the Forum Report: Release the National Education Forum report and issue a White Paper immediately to restore faith in the participatory policy-making process.
• Review Expenditure Caps: Negotiate with international partners (World Bank) to adjust expenditure caps on critical skills and foundational learning projects to ensure implementation timelines are met.

For Civil Society and Eduwatch:

• Enhanced Monitoring: Deploy independent monitors to track the utilization of the GH¢700 million DACF allocation to ensure that the 261 new school projects are completed to standard.
• Advocacy for Equity: Continue to push for a deliberate equity-based funding formula that directs more resources to rural districts to bridge the urban-rural divide.

FAQ

Conclusion

Eduwatch’s assessment paints a picture of an education system at a crossroads. The government has successfully mobilized resources, evidenced by the historic GH¢42 billion budget and the uncapping of the GETFund. The commitment to equity, seen in feeding programs and support for girls, is commendable. However, financial strength is rendered ineffective by administrative weakness. The lack of teacher recruitment, the freezing of funds through bureaucratic delays, and the silence on the National Education Forum report threaten to derail these gains. To achieve the 2030 SDG 4 targets, Ghana must move from a phase of allocating resources to a phase of efficiently deploying them. The urgency to recruit teachers and release funds is not just administrative; it is a moral imperative to protect the future of millions of Ghanaian students.

Sources

• Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch). 2025 Year-End Education Sector Assessment.
• Ministry of Education, Ghana. Education Sector Medium Term Development Plan (2026–2029).
• Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund). Financial Reports and Allocation Statements.
• National Education Forum. Stakeholder Consultation Reports.