The Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) has expressed concern about what it labeled as the ?over-politicization? of the education system and said this needed to changed to promote quality.
Mr M. A. Appiah, its Ashanti Regional Chairman, said it was time the people acted together to stop politicians from toying with the country?s education.
He criticized frequent policy changes merely for reasons of parochial political interest and advantage, and noted that this had only succeeded in lowering standards.
Speaking at a press conference held in Kumasi as part of activities marking this year?s GNAPS week celebration, he called on Ghanaians to demand a comprehensive national educational policy to save the nation?s ailing education.
?Quality or Quantity Education,Which Way Ghana? is the theme for the week-long event.
Mr Appiah said he particularly found it quite disturbing ?the political games? being played with the duration and accessibility of senior high school (SHS) education.
He said instead of addressing the core challenges ? inadequate funding, lack of equipment, infrastructure and abject poverty among parents, the focus had rather been on course duration and empty promises.
The GNAPS Regional Chairman suggested that instead of spending scarce resources to build new SHS, the state should provide support to the privately operated ones to expand their infrastructure and facilities to admit more students.
Besides, government could add to the infrastructure of the existing community deprived schools to increase enrolment.
He underlined the need to assist private schools with tax reliefs, soft loans to buy buses and equipment and other incentives to enable them expand.
Mr Appiah also called for another look at the Computer Selection and Placement System to make sure that candidates were placed in private schools.
He warned that if things were not rightly done some private SHS could collapse because of the lack of students. GNA
