The Member of Parliament for Builsa South has raised concerns government’s indebtedness to the education sector risks collapsing the sector.
According to him, the government owes approximately GH¢340 million to suppliers of the Buffer Stock Company, which makes it difficult for the company to order fresh supplies.
This, he said, has made it impossible for the company to assign suppliers to provide food to the various secondary schools across the country.
He disclosed the capitation grant to basic schools is also in arrears since 2019 despite the fact budgetary allocation for each of 2020 and 2021 was in excess of GH¢60 million.
The legislator also disclosed government owes the West African Examination Council (WAEC) arrears to the tune of GH¢23 million for the 2021 BECE and the WASSCE.
The institution, he said, meanwhile needs a minimum of GH¢96 million to prepare and conduct the 2022 national examinations for basic and secondary schools and yet these monies have not been released.
Hon. Clement Apaak raised the concerns during an interview in Parliament on Thursday to express dissatisfaction with answers the Minister of Education provided on Wednesday during question time.
According to him, Parliament approved a budgetary allocation of GH¢2.3 billion for the Ministry of Education and questioned why the government’s indebtedness to the Buffer Stock and suppliers has not yet been settled.
He argued that contrary to claims by the Minister that most secondary schools have received food supplies following threats by headteachers to shut them down, what has been provided would not last two weeks.
“How come we have allocated and approved GH¢2.3 billion to finance the Free Senior High School policy and yet the government is unable to pay buffer stock food suppliers?”
“The President must instruct the Ministry for Finance to release the monies that we have approved for Buffer Stock food suppliers to be paid in full so they can continue to supply food to keep our students well nourished for the WASSCE.”
Mr. Apaak condemned the government’s failure to pay the capitation grant for the past three years and stressed explanation by the Education Minister that the Accountant General is about to finish the releases of some GH¢14 million is most unsatisfactory.
He questioned why headmasters are being compelled to dip into their own pockets to buy chalks, notebooks and other logistics.
“Why is it that these monies are not being released to pay the capitation grant arrears giving the importance of that grant in enhancing effective teaching and learning at the basic school level.
He lamented the students are just about to sit for the 2022 BECE and WASSCE and yet the government has not settled its debt to WAEC, not to talk of the release for the impending examinations.