Pianim wants GETfund coverage for private schools

The Chairman of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission, Mr. Kwame Pianim has called on government to extend the Capitation Grant and GETfund to private educational institutions in the country.

According to him, every child deserves to benefit from the public fund irrespective of the school he or she attends.

Mr. Pianim who was speaking at the sixth anniversary and prize-giving day of Action Secondary Technical School in Accra noted that education is a major tool that can push the economy forward.

He therefore urged government to assist the private sector to contribute towards providing education for all children since the public schools are not enough.

Mr. Pianim argued that the country's population since independence has increased several folds, which made it difficult for government alone to shoulder the burden of funding education.

“Government alone cannot shoulder that responsibility and therefore when private individuals are helping, the impression should not be given that the society and the government are not appreciative of the private sector.

“So for example if you take the Capitation and the School Feeding Programme, after they extend it to all the public schools, I will like to believe that it will be extended to the private schools because it doesn't matter whether the child is in a privately owned school or public school, they are all children of this country and we owe them the duty of educating them.”

The Director of the school, Mr James Amankwah also appealed to government to support private schools to enable them improve upon the quality of education they provide.