Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu criticised the current focus of public spending on secondary education, saying Ghana must redirect more attention and resources towards foundational learning at the basic level. Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, September 12, he warned that excessive expenditure on senior high schools was a major setback left by the previous administration.
Iddrisu said that the country is spending too much on secondary education, a damage he attributed to the former government. He argued that investment should start at the foundation, where children acquire the literacy and numeracy skills essential for later academic development. “Everywhere in the world, focus, resources, and investment must be aligned to foundational learning, basic education,” he added.
The minister highlighted that strong early literacy significantly improves a child’s prospects for success. “If a child gets literacy right, that child is more likely to succeed than in any other situation,” he said.
Iddrisu also noted that about GH¢3.4 billion is spent on the school feeding programme, linking this cost to the broader investment in education under the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy. While acknowledging the value of free secondary education, he stressed the need for a better balance in resource allocation across the sector.
He credited President John Mahama’s administration, the Ministry of Finance and the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for mobilising resources to support education. According to Iddrisu, GETFund now has the capacity to mobilise adequate resources with government and finance ministry backing.
In closing, the minister maintained that Ghana’s education priorities must not only expand secondary access but also ensure children acquire the basic skills needed to benefit from education at every level.
