The President of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Rev. Isaac Owusu, has attributed the rising rate of exam failures among basic school pupils to excessive politicisation of education and chronic delays in the release of the capitation grant.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Rev. Owusu said government alone cannot effectively run basic education without the active support of parents, noting that attempts to block Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) contributions have worsened conditions in schools.
He explained that the capitation grant is insufficient to cover operational costs, as it must be spread across examinations, sports, meetings, minor repairs, and teaching materials.
According to him, no basic school receives more than GH₵1,500 per term, making it difficult to provide quality education without additional support.
Rev. Owusu warned that without necessary learning materials, pupils are likely to struggle during WAEC examinations.
“We must stop the blame game and work together to fix the system. Government has its role, parents have their role. Excessive politicisation is hurting education,” he stressed.
He commended Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu for clearing all outstanding capitation arrears since assuming office, noting that the timely release of funds for the current term has provided some relief.
Rev. Owusu further called for the reactivation of PTAs, insisting that parents who are willing and able to support schools should not be prevented from doing so.