The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, has called for stronger government support and collaboration with private schools, describing the sector as an indispensable partner in Ghana’s efforts to provide quality education.
He said the government alone could not meet the educational needs of the country’s growing population, making the contribution of private educational institutions critical to national development.
Mr Bagbin made the call when he opened the 30th Annual General Conference of the Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) in Ho in the Volta Region.
The conference, held on the theme “Revolutionizing Education: Transforming Ghana Through Innovation and Technology,” brought together private school proprietors, headteachers, administrators and other education stakeholders from across the country.
The conference is aimed at examining innovative approaches to education delivery, particularly the use of technology to equip learners with skills needed in an increasingly digital world.
It is also providing a platform for members to assess the progress of the association, deliberate on challenges confronting private education and develop strategies for the future of the sector.
Opening the conference, Speaker Bagbin urged the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service to create an environment in which private schools can operate effectively and contribute to the country’s educational objectives.
He stressed that although government may not always be in a position to provide private schools with grants or teaching and learning materials, state institutions have a responsibility to ensure that the sector receives the necessary support and protection.
“The state may not be able to provide them with grants or teaching and learning materials, but it must create a conducive environment for them to operate,” he said.
The Speaker cautioned state institutions against treating private schools with suspicion or viewing them as a problem that must be contained.
Mr Bagbin also acknowledged the need for regulation to protect children, but said measures introduced to safeguard learners should not undermine the survival of private schools.
“Regulations must be designed to support the sector rather than to ruin it,” he added.
Mr Bagbin said private school operators who invest their capital and take risks to provide education should be treated as partners in Ghana’s development rather than competitors of the state.
The First Vice President of GNAPS, Justice Kind Essiel Amevor, said the conference was intended to stimulate discussions on how technology and innovation could transform teaching and learning.
He said the changing demands of the global economy required the education sector to rethink how learners are prepared for the future.
The GNAPS leadership also reiterated the need for stronger collaboration between private schools and government institutions to improve education delivery and ensure that learners across the country have access to quality education.
