Ghana’s Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei-Adutwum, has introduced a fresh set of uniforms for basic school students in a bid to uplift the image of public schools. The initiative, aimed at rebranding public education, was announced during a ceremony at the University of Professional Studies, Accra.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Adutwum emphasized the significance of the uniform change, stating, “We are rebranding public schools. No brown and yellow, but blue and white. This is President Akufo-Addo and Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia’s Ghana. We have begun the transformation, and Ghana deserves better.”
Responding to critics who accuse him of neglecting basic schools, Dr. Adutwum reiterated his commitment to enhancing their quality. He envisions a future where parents enthusiastically enroll their children in public schools due to the excellence of education provided.
However, Dr. Clement Apaak, the deputy ranking member of the Education Committee in Parliament, criticized the move, labeling it a misallocation of resources. He pointed out the neglect faced by public basic schools and the urgent need for capitation grants
for their operation. Dr. Apaak questioned the rationale behind diverting resources to changing uniforms instead of addressing these pressing issues.
“This marks the second change in uniform under the Akufo-Addo Administration,” Dr. Apaak noted, referring to the alteration in 2019 by the then Education Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, who now serves as the Energy Minister.
As the debate over the new uniforms unfolds, it underscores the government’s efforts to reshape the image of public education while raising concerns about resource allocation and prioritization within the sector.
