Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch) has raised concerns that Ghana’s 2026 education budget, although meeting the minimum share of national expenditure, still falls short of critical global financing thresholds needed to drive equitable access and improved learning outcomes.
In a statement released in Accra on Thursday, the organisation noted that the GH¢49 billion allocation—representing 16.2% of total public expenditure and 3.1% of GDP—meets the lower bound of UNESCO’s recommended 15–20% share of national budgets but “falls below the recommended minimum of 4–6 per cent of GDP required to drive equitable access and improved learning outcomes.”
Eduwatch said a stronger commitment is necessary as Ghana enters a new medium-term education planning cycle between 2026 and 2029. It emphasised that sustained funding remains vital to addressing “widening disparities in access and learning outcomes”.
Infrastructure and Furniture Concerns
The group questioned the government’s continued allocation for basic school construction and furniture without transparency on ongoing projects. It urged the Ministry of Education to provide “a comprehensive update on the progress and execution of the 261 basic schools and school furniture in 2025.”
Eduwatch further warned that despite GH¢1.3 billion allocated over two years for school furniture, procurement quality remains weak. “The durability and quality of furniture procured have always been a matter of concern, diminishing value for money,” it said, recommending a one-year manufacturer’s warranty for all items.
Teacher shortages remain another serious challenge, with the organisation stating that an estimated 30,000 basic school classrooms lack trained teachers. “The Ministry of Education and GES must prioritise teacher recruitment,” Eduwatch insisted, urging rationalisation to send surplus teachers in cities to deprived communities.
Free SHS Spending Pressuring Infrastructure
Eduwatch expressed alarm over the allocation of 42% of GETFund resources—GH¢4.2 billion—to the Free SHS programme, mainly for feeding and recurrent costs. It warned that this “risks further deprioritising tertiary education infrastructure financing”.
The group urged the government to seek new funding avenues such as CSR partnerships and diaspora bonds and to reconsider withholding education funds from petroleum revenues under the ABFA.
Eduwatch also called for efficient disbursement under the Ghana Secondary Learning Improvement Programme to meet the two-year target of ending the double-track system.
Special Education, Girls’ Education and No-Fee-Stress Policy
The think tank welcomed allocations for special schools and sanitary pads for female students but called for transparency and full releases. It recalled that the Auditor-General previously found that only 65% of special education funds were released between 2016 and 2020.
On the GH¢537 million allocated for the No-Fee-Stress Policy covering first-year tertiary fees, Eduwatch cautioned that the amount is insufficient. “There is a need for about GH¢300 million in supplementary funding to support effective policy implementation,” it said.
Eduwatch repeated its long-held position that teacher trainee allowances should be scrapped and rechannelled into the Students Loan Scheme, calling the GH¢207.8 million allocation “uneconomical”.
Eduwatch said that while the 2026 budget reflects important commitments, “persistent gaps in teacher supply, TVET and tertiary education resourcing remain concerning,” and that improved budget credibility and timely releases are essential.
