Ghana Launches "Go Public! Fund Education" Campaign to Strengthen the Education System

Accra, Ghana—On May 13, 2025, the "Go Public! Fund Education" campaign was officially launched in Accra, marking an important milestone in Ghanaian unions’   push for the improvement of quality public education. Under the auspices of the Campaign Against Privatisation and Commercialisation of Education (CAPCOE), an advocacy wing of the education unions in Ghana, with funding from the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), in collaboration with Education International. Ghana becomes the 26th country to officially launch the campaign. The “Go Public! Fund Education” campaign aims to tackle the pressing challenges faced by public education systems and ensure every child has access to quality learning environments through adequate funding by governments.   
 
Dr. Dennis Sinyolo, Regional Director of Education International Africa, emphasised that education is a fundamental human right, as outlined in various international agreements, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He highlighted the alarming statistic that over 250 million children worldwide remain out of school, with Sub-Saharan Africa facing a severe shortage of qualified teachers. He noted, "44 million new teachers are needed to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4 by 2030, 15 million of them in Sub-Saharan Africa."
 
The campaign aims to call on governments, particularly in African nations, to prioritise funding for education, ensuring that every child has access to quality public schools. Dr. Sinyolo criticised the current investment levels, stating that governments are only allocating an average of 3.8% of GDP or 15% of the national budget to education, falling short of the internationally recommended benchmarks of 6% and 20%, respectively. In light of the financial challenges faced by many African countries, he urged the international community to take immediate action on debt relief, stressing that such measures would free up resources for essential services like education and health.
 
Richard Kwashie Kovey, the Convener of CAPCOE, reiterated that the campaign in Ghana is to promote quality pre-tertiary education through evidence-based advocacy to address issues affecting quality education in Ghana. CAPCOE and partners work to put pressure on the government to ensure that every Ghanaian child of school-going age has access to a quality, conducive learning environment. This is expressed under article 25(1)(a)  and 38 (1)   of the 1992 constitution that places the responsibility of providing free, quality, and equitable basic education on the state.   
 
The launch of the "Go Public! Fund Education" campaign marks a significant step in a broader movement that has already reached 25 African countries. The campaign advocates for the end of private education commercialisation, asserting that education should be a public good accessible to all.
 
In closing, Dr. Sinyolo shared five key principles for education policy reform: Think BIG, Plan BIG, Invest BIG, Act BIG, and Achieve BIG. The campaign aims to unify efforts to ensure that every Ghanaian child, youth, and adult benefits from a robust educational system.
 
As the campaign unfolds, stakeholders in Ghana are hopeful that this initiative will lead to meaningful change in the education sector, paving the way for a brighter future for all children.
 

[Fri, 16 May 2025 13:33:39 +0000] | DIGG THIS


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