Ghana’s Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has disclosed a concerning reality—approximately 5,000 schools across the country are still functioning under trees, lacking proper infrastructure. Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, the Minister highlighted severe gaps in educational resources, particularly at the junior high school level, where both physical and digital resources remain inadequate.
Iddrisu questioned the quality of teaching materials and facilities in these schools, noting that 30 years after the 1992 constitution, the country has yet to fully achieve its goal of free, compulsory, and universal basic education. He emphasized that about 759 schools urgently need infrastructure interventions to eliminate the “schools under trees” phenomenon.
Additionally, the Minister pointed out the stark contrast in educational quality between urban and rural areas, with southern Ghana generally performing better than northern regions, including Western North and Oti. He stressed the importance of addressing these regional disparities to ensure students acquire the skills and knowledge needed for the 21st century.
