John Dramani Mahama
In a bid to address challenges within Ghana’s education sector, National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, has pledged to overhaul the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and initiate reforms to improve the educational landscape.
During a meeting with four teacher unions in Accra, Mahama highlighted the need to de-collateralize and de-cap the GETFund, which he claims has been hindered from fulfilling its intended purpose due to restrictions placed upon it. He emphasized that the current constraints on GETFund have severely limited its capacity to effectively support educational initiatives across the country.
Mahama also outlined his vision for restructuring the education system, including the absorption of the free Senior High School (SHS), Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) secretariats into the Ghana Education Service (GES). Additionally, he proposed integrating STEM and TVET education into the SHS system to provide a more comprehensive approach to education.
Accompanied by his running mate, Prof Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang, and members of the party’s Manifesto Committee, Mahama addressed concerns raised by the President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Angel Carbonu, regarding education delivery. The demands presented by the teacher unions included a review of the free SHS policy, increased investment in basic education, prioritization of teaching as a primary employment sector, allowances for teachers in underserved areas, abolishment of the teacher licensure examination, and enhancements to the teaching and learning environment.
Mahama responded to these demands by outlining several key policy proposals, including the abolition of the double-track system, integration of the teacher licensure examination into final assessments for students in colleges of education and universities, and decentralization of teacher employment through district and regional directorates of education. He also pledged to restore autonomy to school heads, holding them accountable for student performance while granting them greater control over school management.
The meeting provided an opportunity for the leadership and members of the four teacher unions – NAGRAT, Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU), Concerned Teachers Association of Ghana (CCT Ghana), and Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) – to engage Mahama and his team on various education-related issues, including the NDC’s manifesto policies on colleges of education.
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