Poor funding blamed for poor educational performance in the north

A research and advocacy group, the Northern Development Forum (NDF), has blamed the poor educational performance in the three regions of the north on low budgetary allocation for education in the region.

According to the group, there has been a steady decline in the academic performance of students over the past two years in the three regions, namely Northern, Upper East and Upper West.

The Public Affairs Officer of the NDF, Bennett Mahama, said it came to this conclusion after a two-year research on education, energy and health in the three regions.

“The research proved that we are still behind in education as compared to the other regions. There has not been any indication of improvement. We are still worse in performance at all levels,” he said.

He noted that, the situation has left a negative effect in the region with most graduates unable to gain admission to higher institutions of learning.

Bennett Mahama further called on government to increase budgetary allocation for education in the three regions, to promote effective teaching and learning.

Imbalance in infrastructure eroding quality education

The Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), recently cited inadequate funding as one of the main reasons for the erosion of quality education at all levels in Ghana.

Presenting findings on ISSER’s latest report on the education sector at the University of Ghana today [Tuesday], a researcher at ISSER, Professor Jonathan Fletcher, indicated that governments have not been able to balance improved access with funding.

‘Improving education is responsibility of all’

Meanwhile, President John Mahama has appealed to all stakeholders in the education sector to help improve the standard of education in the country.