'Ministry of Education isn’t changing uniforms, repainting public schools' - Statement

The Ministry of Education has refuted claims suggesting that the government is proposing to change the uniforms of public school students and repaint existing school facilities.

Speaking on behalf of the ministry, Kwasi Kwarteng, the Public Relations Officer, clarified that there are no plans to change uniforms across all public schools or to repaint existing school buildings.

He emphasized that the current initiative exclusively focuses on newly-constructed schools.

“Contrary to the reports, the Ministry of Education isn’t changing uniforms for all public schools. Neither is the Ministry repainting existing ones.

“The initiative focuses on newly built schools, aiming to uplift their appearance and enhance public confidence in public basic schools.

“Similar to senior high schools, junior high schools may have options for uniforms, but it doesn’t imply a widespread change. The emphasis is on enhancing the aesthetic of new school facilities, not altering existing ones,” he stated in an interview with Citi FM.

This clarification comes in response to conflicting statements made by the Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, during a forum titled ‘The Free SHS Story’ in Accra on Tuesday, April 23.

Dr. Adutwum had disclosed plans to replace the brown and yellow uniforms worn by students in public basic schools with blue and white ones, as part of an initiative to revitalize basic education in the country and make it more appealing.

“We are switching to blue and white. We are painting all the schools to give them an attractive outlook. This is the transformation Ghana deserves and it is coming,” Dr. Adutwum had announced.

He further stated that the brown and yellow uniforms would be replaced, signaling a comprehensive overhaul of the visual identity of Ghana's public basic education sector.

However, Kwarteng’s clarification contradicts Dr. Adutwum's statements, indicating that the initiative pertains only to newly-constructed schools and does not involve a widespread change in uniforms or repainting of existing school buildings.

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