Government discriminates against private school parents and children, violating Article 25(1)

The main purpose and aim of this article is to empower and advocate for private school parents to demand from the Ghanaian government, through the Ministry of Education and Ghana Education Service (GES), for their Ghanaian children to enjoy the same rights to educational opportunities and facilities.

The goal is for the Government of Ghana to provide the same opportunities and facilities to private schools as it does to public schools. Private schools are established in Ghana to support the constitutional agenda of the Ghanaian educational system, where the government fails to provide school buildings and resources for its operations. Therefore, private individuals find it necessary and wise to establish schools in areas where governments have not provided schools and education for our children.

One may ask, what is the difference between public and private schools in Ghana? From my personal knowledge, they are the same in terms of goals, but ownership differs. Private school parents choose to send their children to private schools for several reasons. Some reasons could include the lack of public schools in the community or area, the belief that private schools offer better teaching and learning processes, the pride in paying moderate or high fees which reflect the standard of learning, or various other personal reasons.

All these assumptions about parents sending their children to private schools are unfounded. What is important is the right of Ghanaian children to free education, as outlined in the constitution of Ghana. It is the responsibility of the Ghanaian government to provide for all children's educational needs.

However, there is discrimination when it comes to the supply of human resources, such as the posting of qualified teachers. The government only provides public schools with qualified teachers. What happens to the child of a private school parent who is attending a private school? Does that child not have the same right to be taught by qualified teachers that the government posts to public schools? These teachers would be on the government payroll and supervised by GES.

Another form of discrimination is seen when the government prints and supplies books to public schools, but does not provide them to private schools. Why should the Ghanaian government discriminate against private school parents and their children in this way? Private school parents are forced to purchase books in addition to paying private school fees because education is someone's investment.

The government of Ghana provides uniforms for Ghanaian children in schools but discriminates by not supporting the children of private school parents with uniforms. Do we have equal rights as citizens?

The constitution of Ghana under Article 25 (1)a and Article 25 (2), states that:

1. All persons shall have the right to equal educational opportunities and facilities and with a view to achieving the full realization of that right –

2. Basic education shall be free, compulsory, and available to all.

3. Every person shall have the right, at his own expense, to establish and maintain a private school or schools at all levels and of such categories and in accordance with such conditions as may be provided by law.

The above clearly shows that there is recognition in the constitution for private schools to be established by individuals. This is because the government knows that it lacks the facilities and resources to build and operate in every corner of the country. The Ghana Education Service (GES) must be in partnership with private schools so that children can also enjoy whatever the government of Ghana is responsible for providing to public schools.

In light of the above submissions, I would like to inform private school parents to start demanding from the government about their children's rights. The government must fulfill fully or partially the following recommendations:

The government of Ghana must identify all private schools in Ghana and include them in their plans and budgets for providing private schools with:

.some government teachers under government payroll for our children to also benefit from Ghana government quality educational opportunities.

.Provide the private schools with some of the necessary textbooks to reduce parents’ hardships in buying all textbooks and workbooks.

.Provide them with some ICT equipment such as computers and laptops to support the children in ICT knowledge.

The government can implement this through the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service, and MMDCs. The parents are Ghanaians, as well as their children. The Ghana government cannot be selective when it comes to national duties and responsibilities. Equal rights, equal enjoyment, and satisfaction from the government must be strengthened for the citizens.

If not, then why would such parents of private school students vote on election day? Why would they vote in a referendum? These parents are part of making you president and government, so there should be no more discrimination when it comes to Article 25 (1)(a) and (2).