INEQUALITY IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR OF GHANA BY FESTUS AKUETTEH ANKRAH IMANI CENTER FOR POLICY AND EDUCATION

PRESENTATION OUTLINE Introduction Overview of Ghana Education Sector( Structure, Policies) What is Inequality in Education and the Indicators The Story of Inequality In Ghana Education Sector Gender and Spatial Picture What is being done and what happen done? Conclusion Way forward

INTRODUCTION Education is an important tool for the eradication of poverty. It can empower people with the knowledge and skills needed to offer opportunities to pull oneself, and future generations, out of poverty. Ghana’s education system consists of Kindergarten, which is attended for 2 years Primary School, which is attended for 6 years Junior High School (JHS), attended for 3 years Senior High School (SHS), attended for 4 years, and Tertiary Education

POLICY OBJECTIVES Policies Education Strategy Plan II Ghana Shared Growth Development Agenda I & II Objectives Improve equitable access to and participation in quality education at all levels; Bridge gender gap in access to education; Improve access to quality education for people with disability

What is Inequality in Education Inequality—the state of not being equal, especially in status, rights, quality, access and opportunities (Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary ) Is a concept very much at the heart of social justice theories Dimensions of educational inequality: Racial Inequality- Ethnicity, Religion Gender Inequality- Male and Female        Socio-economic inequality- Rich and Poor Spatial inequality- Region, District, Urban , Rural

The Story of Inequality In Ghana’S Education Sector Gender Picture Improvement in gender parity at the Kindergarten level over the 6 year period. Now more girls than boys at this level Gender parity achieved at the Primary school level; improvement from 2009/10 Improvement in JHS, as there about 5 more girls in education for every 100 boys compared to 7 years ago. However, parity has still not been achieved Improvement in SHS but the gap is still not bridged

Basic Education Completion Rate Completion rate in general is lower for females than for males, at both levels Highest levels for Primary school than for JHS

SHS Completion Rate Average gap between male and female is about 5% from 2009-2015

WASSCE PASS RATE Females are less likely to pass in every subject except English, where they passed at the same rate as males in 2013/2014, and exceeded males in 2014/2015

Spatial Picture Gender parity still not achieved in 5 out of 10 regions (Central, Eastern, Northern, Upper East, Volta) in 2013/2014 This is better than 4 years prior, when gender parity was not fulfilled in 8 out of 10 regions

WASSCE PASS RATE 2014 Lowest pass rates in English are in Northern, UE, UW, Central There are low pass rates in mathematics throughout most regions but the lowest are: Northern, UE, UW, Volta, Central Lowest pass rates in Integrated Science: Northern, UE, Volta, Central Lowest pass rates in Social Studies: Northern, Volta, UE, and Central. Generally, more students pass this subject than other subjects

How Ghana is handling the Inequalities Discrimination about PWD Inclusive Education Policy Includes four policy objectives: Improve and adapt education an related systems of all learners particularly learners with special educational needs Promote a UDL (Universal Design Learning)/learner friendly school environment for enhancing the quality of education for all learners Promote the development of a well-informed and trained human resource cadre for the quality delivery of IE (Inclusive Education) throughout Ghana Ensure sustainability of Inclusive Education Implementation Gender Inequality Girls Participatory Approaches to Students Success (PASS) Scholarships for girls Renovations of SHS facilities to include the construction of female dormitories, to encourage female participation Support for female role models in schools and communities Regional Inequality LEAP – (Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty) cash transfer program aimed at improving the welfare of the extremely poor – affects the access to education GETFund – develops educational infrastructure to improve equitable access

Recommendation Equity Debate

Recommendation Cont’d Focus more on solutions for other forms of inequality Race, Religion, Disabilities, Tribal Pay attention to ensuring that children get quality education, as stated in SDG 4 ‘Ensure Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education and Promote Lifelong Learning Opportunities For All’. This can be done through making more accessible infrastructure for those with disabilities Training teachers with specific directives

REFERENCES Education Sector Performance Reports Annual Progress Reports Ghana Shared Growth Development Agenda

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