Written by Sian Dewdney (2011) Thrive Africa Intern.
Ghana was a British colony until Ghana gained independence in 1957. Since the colonial era, education has been seen as way to encourage social and economical development. During the colonial era a formal education system was implemented in Ghana. Since Ghana gained independence Ghanaian governments have continued to implement a formal education system and tried to improve and increase the number of schools available. In the 1960s the Ghanaian government implemented a policy which made primary education free and mandatory. Currently in Ghana primary school education remains free. Primary school starts from the age of six, for six years and then continues for another three years of academic training combined with technical and vocational training. After basic school children can enter senior secondary school, following on to junior high school. School costs and payment for senior secondary and junior high school is expected to be provided by parents.
Towards the end of the 1980’s the Ghanaian government collaborated with the World Bank and the UN, they also collaborated with many other aid agencies to improve the education system. From 1980 the United Nations have implemented development programmes designed to support the most marginalised. The Millennium Development Goals set up by the United Nations in the 1990s provides targets for international development to be achieved by 2015. One of the goals set out is to “ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling.” Through support from international development agencies, the Government are continuously working towards achieving basic education for all in Ghana, yet there are many problematic issues which affect the education system.
