THE UNPRECEDENTED PROACTIVE POLICY INTERVENTION OF THE NPP - MR .KPODO

A Review of the NPP Government's Management of the Ghana Socio-Economic Resurgence

NPP GOVERNMENT'S ACHIEVEMENT IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR

The NPP Government regards Education as the most important public good. It is therefore committed to the provision of quality and affordable Education for all Ghanaians.

The NPP Government's main objective is to rebuild our educational system from nursery to university. This means providing quality educational facilities and infrastructure. It also means ensuring that favorable conditions and an enabling environment exist for an effective educational system.

Since 2001, the NPP Government has undertaken qualitative improvement and expansion in quality and affordable education. The policy initiatives and improvements instituted by the NPP Government since assuming office have been in the following areas:

1. School Enrollment
2. Infrastructure (primary, polytechnics, teacher training colleges, and universities)
3. Capitation Grant
4. School Feeding Programme
5. Teachers Remuneration
6. GET FUND
7. Government Subsidy to SSS

SCHOOL ENROLLMENT
Level No. of Schools Enrollment
2000/01 2007/08 2000/01 2007/08
Pre-school 5,976 11,140 649,677 1,258,483
Primary 11,916 13,247 2,477,990 3,622,724
JHS 6,133 7,267 804,419 1,224,964
SHS 474 493 204,000 454,681

The above analysis shows a significant increase in the number of schools and enrollment since NPP assumed office in 2001. The quantity and enrollment of Pre-School for example has doubled. In addition, Primary and Junior High Schools enrollment has increased by 50%, and that of Senior High Schools has doubled due to prudent policies adopted by the NPP Government. The policy of providing one Model Senior High School for each district is also on course. Thirty-one (31) of such schools have been constructed and twenty-five (25) are nearing completion. Below is an analysis of enrollment in Tertiary Institutions:

Level No. of Institutions Enrollment
2000/01 2007/08 2000/01 2007/08
University 5 6 40,670 88,445
Private Univ. 4 16 1,667 18,278
Polytechnic 10 10 18,470 28,695
Professional Inst. 3 3 2,013 4,350

A significant achievement is the increase in the number of Private Universities which has quadrupled as well as the enrollment. Polytechnic enrollment has also seen a significant increase of 50%. INFRASTRUCTURE (Primary, Polytechnics, Teacher Training, Universities)

Since assuming office, the NPP Government has constructed and established the following:

1. 765 new school blocks at basic level throughout the country
2. 150 (3- unit) classroom blocks
3. 231 (6- unit) classroom blocks
4. Establishment of the University of Mines and Technology

5. Establishment of the University of Developmental Studies campus

6. One (1) polytechnic in Wa (Upper West )
7. One (1) polytechnic in Bolgatanga (Upper East )
8. Modernisation and expansion of capacity in Universities and Polytechnics

The NPP Government has clearly laid a solid foundation due to the substantial expansion in both educational infrastructure and in enrollment at all levels of the educational system. Additionally, below is the comparison of the number of educational projects completed before and after the NPP Government took office.

NUMBER OF PROJECTS COMPLETED DESCRIPTION OF SCHOOL 1992-2000 2001-TO DATE

Pre-school(Classroom) - 1,668
Primary(Classroom) 5,688 9,862
Second Cycle(Classroom) 160 6,417
Teacher Accommodation Units 4,719 6,178
Technical Education(Classrooms) - 178
Special Education(Classrooms) - 75
Universities(Lecture Halls) 6 19
Polytechnics(Lecture Halls) 6 128
CAPITATION GRANT
The NPP Government started the Capitation Grant in 2005. The Capitation Grant has contributed immensely to the increase in enrollment at the basic level (please see section on school enrollment). The purpose of this policy is to remove barriers to enrollment and encourage participation and attendance. It also provides for expanded services as identified in School Performance Improvement Plans. Below are Government's releases to date:

1. 2005 - C28.5 billion released to public primary schools in 53 deprived districts
2. 2005 - C95.0 billion released to cover ALL public basic schools in the country
3. 2006 - C129.5 billion released for pupils in public basic schools
4. 2007 - C138.9 billion released for pupils in public basic schools
5. 2008 – GHc 14.8 million released for pupils in public basic schools

IMPACT OF THE CAPITATION GRANT
The impact of the Capitation Grant has been huge. This is shown below in the Gross Enrollment Rate which is increasing every year.

2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08
Pre-school 55.37 60.14 85.30 86.10 89.9
Primary 85.70 86.50 92.10 93.70 95.2
JSS 69.60 70.20 74.70 74.80 78.8

SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME
This policy was first developed by the NPP Government as a pilot scheme in 2005. The policy is meant to enhance the nutritional status of school children and promote access, retention and quality of education. Initially, five (5) schools in each region were selected to start the pilot. The table below shows the increase in the number of schools and pupils participating in the program, and the numberse projected for 2009 and 2010. One can clearly see the benefits of the program!

Year No. of schools Pupils
2007 889 320,000
2008 1,556 560,000
2009 2,222 800,000
2010 2,889 1,040,000

The NPP Government has since the inception of the program to date spent approximately GHC 60,000,000 (600 billion cedis).

TEACHERS REMUNERATION(Analysis of Salary Increases 2000 & 2008)

GRADE YEAR 2000 YEAR 2008 % INC
GHc(per annum) GHc(per annum)
CERT A 317.35 3,105.00 978%
SENIOR SUPERINTENDENT 530.26 4,837.00 912%PRINCIPAL SUPERINTENDENT 602.87 5,608.00 930%ASSISTANT DIRECTOR 779.28 7,537.00 967%

Even with adjustment for inflation, the comparison clearly shows the quantum leap of teachers remuneration since NPP assumed office to the present

GET FUND
The Ghana Education Trust Fund (GET Fund) has disbursed a total of GHc 537,962,000 between 2001- 2007 when the NPP Government assumed office towards the improvement of education throughout the country. The funds have been invested in the following:

· Infrastructure
· Academic Facilities
· Hostels
· Research Activities
· Scholarships
· Provision of Vehicles
· Sporting Facilities

The bulk of the funding has been devoted to the universities and polytechnics. It must be emphasized that the University of Development Studies (UDS) has received more support than any other institution for infrastructure and academic facilities on its campuses in Tamale, Nyankpala, Navrongo, and Wa. All the ten (10) Polytechnics in the country depend on the GET FUND for their infrastructural development. The Wa and Bolgatanga polytechnics have received funding exclusively towards the construction of their campuses which has enhanced admissions.

GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY TO SSS
This subsidy was introduced by the NPP Government when it assumed office in 2001. The table below shows the increase in the number of students, the rate given per student per annum, and the total amount per annum.

NO of STUDENTS RATE(cedis) AMOUNT(cedis) 2001/2002 270,224 310,000 83.77 billion

2002/2003 310,995 310,000 96.41 billion
2003/2004 349,506 393,000 100.73 billion
2004/2005 378,832 433,800 123.99 billion
2005/2006 390,015 403,500 117.18billion 448,500
2006/2007 402,278 403,500 120.71 billion
448,500
2007/2008 415,990 403,500 169.15 billion
448,500

The figures highlighted in italics are for Technical Schools who also benefited from the SUBSIDY POLICY from 2005/2006. The NPP Government has also continued the SUBSIDY to students for the BECE (Basic Education Certificate Examination) and has increased it yearly. In 2000 for example, the subsidy was c7.68 billion out of a total cost of c12.0 billion (subsidy was 64% of the total cost). In 2008, the subsidy was increased to c40.4 billion out of a total cost of c57.8 billion (subsidy is 70% of total cost).

NOTE: The above information and statistics are extracts from 2005-2008 Budget, Ministry of Education, School Feeding Program, Get Fund Administration and NPP Manifesto.

These are facts available to me and views from readers are warmly welcomed.