A lecturer at the Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development has accused successive governments of abandoning basic education because young pupils do not contribute to electoral votes.
Dr Barnabas Amanfo said this political calculation has influenced where national attention and investment are directed, arguing that “they don’t get votes from primary school pupils, so they focus on where the votes are.”
Dr Barnabas Amanfo said the lack of political votes from pupils at the primary level has influenced the low investment in their development.
During a panel discussion on Otec FM’s morning show Nyansapo on Tuesday, hosted by Kwaku Owusu Boateng, Dr Amanfo explained that governments have rather directed their resources and energy toward the secondary and tertiary sectors.
He said the motivation behind this preference is the large population of students aged eighteen and above who can influence election outcomes.
According to him, this approach prioritises short-term political gains over the long-term needs of the nation.
The lecturer painted a worrying picture of the state of primary school infrastructure across Ghana.
He said many pupils still study under trees and in dilapidated structures that are unfit for learning.
“Essential teaching and learning materials such as textbooks remain inadequate in several schools. It is heartbreaking to see children expected to build their foundation under such poor conditions,” he said.
Dr Amanfo stressed that the consequences of this neglect are far-reaching.
He described the primary level as the most critical stage in a child’s academic journey, adding that the country risks stunting its overall development if it continues to overlook the needs of young learners.
“This is the formation period of every child. If we fail them here, we fail the entire system,” he warned.
He therefore appealed to the government to prioritise the provision of infrastructure and teaching logistics at the basic level.
Dr Amanfo said balanced investment across all levels of education is necessary to ensure effective teaching and learning, improve educational outcomes, and secure Ghana’s future development.
Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/Francis Appiah
