A number of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have called for a collaborative approach involving government, academia, and other experts to find lasting solutions to problems facing the educational sector.
The call was made during the STAR-Ghana Foundation, under the Inclusive Elections and Accountable Governance in Ghana Project (Phase III) forum on education held in Accra last Friday.
The event brought together key stakeholders in the education sector to discuss ways to monitor government commitments and ensure accountability in education service delivery.
It focused on strengthening the role of civil society in monitoring education policies, leveraging evidence-based advocacy to improve education services, and enhance partnerships for effective policy implementation.
A major concern among stakeholders is the persistent bottlenecks in basic education and the Free Senior High School (SHS) programme.
These include challenges with education financing, infrastructure deficits, and inadequate teacher deployment. Organisation like EduWatch has pointed out that these issues need urgent government intervention.
The Project Manager for Rights to Services at STAR-Ghana Foundation, Mr Raymond Danso, said the forum served as a preparatory step for the government’s planned National Summit on Transforming Ghana’s Education System.
He noted that CSOs and government working together could lead to practical solutions that address the pressing challenges in the education sector.
Mr Danso emphasised that solutions must be evidence-based and reflect the real needs of citizens and stressed that adequate resources must be committed to ensure the effective implementation of policies that could transform the education sector.
“Civil society partners in the education sector have identified four key priority areas: early childhood education, basic education, secondary education, and tertiary education,” he explained.
Mr Danso further indicated that these priority areas emerged from various forums held across different regions of the country, adding that CSOs discussed the main challenges and expectations in each area, with a strong focus on how to hold the government accountable.
To effectively address these issues, he said, CSOs plan to track government commitments and promises, especially those made in political party manifestos, to ensure that they are fulfilled.
“A new tracking tool is being developed to help monitor progress and ensure accountability, CSOs will use this tool to monitor government performance, advocate for policy changes, and engage constructively with policymakers,” he stated.
Additionally, the tracking tool, he mentioned, was expected to play a crucial role in improving transparency and accountability in the education sector.
According to Mr Danso, this would allow CSOs to coordinate their efforts and work as a united front rather than as individual organisations with separate agendas.
“Data collected through this tool will provide a solid foundation for advocacy efforts, ensuring that recommendations to the government are backed by evidence,” he elaborated.
He said the tracking tool would not just be used to hold the government accountable but also to identify areas where improvements are needed.
“CSOs plan to collaborate with the government to use the tool as a mechanism for continuous monitoring and evaluation, by making the tool publicly accessible, citizens will also have a role in monitoring the government’s progress and demanding accountability.”
Moreover, Mr Danso called on stakeholders to be committed to transparency, collaboration, and shared responsibility in improving the education sector.
“The development and use of the tracking tool will be a key step in ensuring that government policies and commitments translate into real improvements in education for all Ghanaians,” he indicated.
BY AGNES OPOKU SARPONG
Source:
ghanaiantimes.com.gh
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