The government has authorized the disbursement of GH¢20 million intended for the settlement of capitation grants owed to public basic schools nationwide. This move, aimed at replacing parental fees within these schools, seeks to enhance accessibility to education while bolstering school performance.
Following a two-year backlog in grant payments, concerns were raised by the Minority in Parliament and various education stakeholders regarding the adverse impact on basic education.
Responding to inquiries during a parliamentary session, Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum confirmed significant strides in clearing these overdue payments. He stated, “Capitation grant arrears totaling GH¢15 million were distributed to schools in May 2023. Additionally, the remaining GH¢20 million arrears from the previous year have been released by the Ministry of Finance and are undergoing processing for disbursement. Furthermore, an amount of GH¢4.2 million designated for this year’s capitation is also undergoing processing for disbursement.”
The allocation of these funds marks a concerted effort by the government to alleviate the financial strain on public basic schools, ensuring that the educational system is adequately supported for enhanced learning experiences.