By: Maame Efua Kwaduah
Chair of the Education Manifesto for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Prince Hamid Armah has announced the party’s plans to ensure the mandatory school enrollment for children aged four is followed to strengthen their educational foundation.
He noted that while Ghana’s Constitution mandates education, it does not criminalize non-compliance.
To ensure effective enforcement, Dr. Armah proposed using data from the National Identification Authority (NIA) and the Birth and Death Registry. This approach he said would involve notifying parents of children approaching four years old, facilitating timely enrollment.
Dr. Armah highlighted that with existing technologies and data systems, it would be easier for District Education oversight committees and Assembly members to track and enforce compulsory enrollment. He also mentioned that efforts are underway to amend the Pre-Tertiary Education Act to criminalize non-enrollment.
Additionally, Dr. Armah promised that a future NPP government under Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia would focus on enhancing kindergarten education. Plans include constructing modern KG blocks in underserved areas and upgrading existing ones. He stated that about 500,000 Ghana cedis would be sufficient to build quality KG, emphasizing the importance of early childhood education as a cornerstone for future learning.
“Our goal is to ensure that KG blocks in various communities are upgraded with modern equipment and to construct new ones in underserved areas at a very low cost. I believe that with about five hundred thousand Ghana cedis, we can build a quality KG. We are committed to improving KGs because they are the foundation of further learning,” he said.