By Anthony Adongo Apubeo, GNA
Bawku (U/E), May 03, GNA – Stakeholders in the education sector have called for urgent and coordinated action to address persistent challenges affecting the quality of education in the Bawku enclave.
The stakeholders are particularly concerned about teacher shortages, inadequate infrastructure, and lack of furniture.
The concerns were raised at the 2026 First-half Municipal/District Education Dialogue held in Bawku, organised by the Belim Wusa Development Agency (BEWDA) in partnership with ActionAid Ghana, a non-government organisation.
The forum brought together municipal and district chief executives, officials of the Ghana Education Service, Parents and Teacher Associations, civil society organisations, among others, from the Bawku Municipality, Binduri, and Pusiga Districts, to review progress made since the 2025 Education Dialogue and chart a way forward.
Across the three districts, teacher deficits, inadequate infrastructure, and lack of furniture emerged as some of the most critical and pressing challenges affecting quality education delivery in the areas.
For instance, data presented by Ms Mavis Abanga, the Bawku Municipal Public Relations Officer of the GES, showed that despite increased enrolment, teacher numbers had not kept pace.
The municipality recorded a pupil-teacher ratio at the kindergarten level worsening from 1:46 in 2025 to 1:56 in 2026, far above the recommended standard of 1:25–35.
In the Binduri District, the situation presented by Ms Latifa Osman, the Planning and Statistics Officer of the GES, was more severe, with a deficit of about 221 teachers, expected to rise to nearly 300 when head teachers are included.
At the primary level, the pupil-teacher ratio currently stands at an alarming 1:75, which she noted has made effective teaching difficult, particularly in rural schools where teachers are unevenly distributed.
She added that there was a shortage of 38 classrooms at the primary level and 20 at the junior high school level, and criticised the continued construction of six-unit classroom blocks, which often exclude kindergarten pupils.
“Every primary school has a KG attached, yet we continue to build six-unit classrooms, leaving KG children without proper space,” an education official noted, calling for a shift to eight-unit classroom designs.
Participants also identified inadequate furniture as another major barrier to effective learning, particularly at the kindergarten level, where children are often forced to sit on bare floors.
In Binduri alone, there is currently a deficit of 2,929 dual desks at the primary level, 333 desks for junior high schools, and about 370 hexagonal desks for kindergarten pupils.
Participants also highlighted weak PTA participation, insecurity, and social factors such as late-night events as additional challenges affecting school attendance and performance.
The stakeholders agreed on the need for stronger collaboration between government, development partners, and communities, increased investment in education infrastructure, and targeted interventions to address teacher shortages.
Speaking at the dialogue, Mr Isaac Azunab, the Bawku Municipal Chief Executive, said although progress had been made, major gaps remained in ensuring equitable and quality education.
“Education is not just about access; equity and quality are equally important. When schools lack furniture, classrooms, and teachers, we cannot guarantee quality outcomes,” he stated.
Mr Haruna Abdul-Rahim, the Pusiga District Chief Executive, said efforts had been made to mitigate the problem by engaging the National Service Secretariat to post personnel to the district to help address the shortage of teachers.
Mr Peter Asaal, the Executive Director of BEWDA, said the dialogue was not only to identify challenges but also to ensure accountability among duty-bearers.
“We have made some progress, but the challenges, especially teacher deficits, infrastructure, and learning resources, are still very relevant. This forum also places responsibility on stakeholders to act,” he said.
Mr Yakubu Akuka, the Upper East Regional Programmes Manager of ActionAid Ghana, commended the stakeholders for their commitment to improving the quality of education in the area and urged them to work together for maximum results.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Anthony Adongo Apubeo
Email: [email protected]