Govt to decentralise education - Ablakwa

Government is considering a proposal to decentralise education to ensure effectiveness and efficiency. This will ensure efficiency and make teaching and learning more effective at the district level.

Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Deputy Minister of Education, made the disclosure Thursday, on the Super Morning Show on Joy FM.

If the proposal is approved, teachers will no longer be recruited at the central level rather, the district levels to enable the assemblies have greater control over education, Mr. Ablakwa stated.

It will also lead to effective monitoring and evaluation as well as reduce incidence of absenteeism.

Mr. Ablakwa said the proposal is being considered by President John Mahama. "The president chairs the national decentralisation committee himself and that should tell you how committed he is to this process," he stated.

He said feasibility studies have been completed while the necessary roadmap has been drawn for the decentralisation exercise.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ablakwa has described as regrettable, recent delay in the release of funding to the sector to purchase materials five weeks into the new academic year.

The situation has disrupted academic work as there was shortage in the supply of basic teaching and learning materials such as chalk, attendance register and teachers' note books.

He said the situation has now been addressed as schools will start taking delivery of materials from next week.

"[The fact] that education is a priority [is] not in doubt; we can only regret the difficulties that we have had with supplies in this term," an apologetic Mr. Ablakwa said.