1. INEQUALITY IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR OF GHANABY
FESTUS AKUETTEH ANKRAH
IMANI CENTER FOR POLICY AND EDUCATION

2. PRESENTATION OUTLINE Introduction
Overview of Ghana Education Sector( Structure, Policies)
What is Inequality in Education and the Indicators
The Story of Inequality In Ghana Education Sector
Gender and Spatial Picture
What is being done and what happen done?
Conclusion
Way forward

3. INTRODUCTION
Education is an important tool for the eradication of poverty. It can empower people with the knowledge and skills needed to offer opportunities to pull oneself, and future generations, out of poverty.
Ghana’s education system consists of
Kindergarten, which is attended for 2 years
Primary School, which is attended for 6 years
Junior High School (JHS), attended for 3 years
Senior High School (SHS), attended for 4 years, and
Tertiary Education

4. POLICY OBJECTIVES Policies Education Strategy Plan II
Ghana Shared Growth Development Agenda I & II
Objectives
Improve equitable access to and participation in quality education at all levels;
Bridge gender gap in access to education;
Improve access to quality education for people with disability

5. What is Inequality in Education
Inequality—the state of not being equal, especially in status, rights, quality, access and opportunities (Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary )
Is a concept very much at the heart of social justice theories
Dimensions of educational inequality:
Racial Inequality- Ethnicity, Religion
Gender Inequality- Male and Female       
Socio-economic inequality- Rich and Poor
Spatial inequality- Region, District, Urban , Rural

6. The Story of Inequality In Ghana’S Education Sector Gender Picture
Improvement in gender parity at the Kindergarten level over the 6 year period. Now more girls than boys at this level
Gender parity achieved at the Primary school level; improvement from 2009/10
Improvement in JHS, as there about 5 more girls in education for every 100 boys compared to 7 years ago. However, parity has still not been achieved
Improvement in SHS but the gap is still not bridged

7. Basic Education Completion Rate
Completion rate in general is lower for females than for males, at both levels
Highest levels for Primary school than for JHS

8. SHS Completion Rate
Average gap between male and female is about 5% from

9. WASSCE PASS RATE
Females are less likely to pass in every subject except English, where they passed at the same rate as males in 2013/2014, and exceeded males in 2014/2015

10. Spatial Picture
Gender parity still not achieved in 5 out of 10 regions (Central, Eastern, Northern, Upper East, Volta) in 2013/2014
This is better than 4 years prior, when gender parity was not fulfilled in 8 out of 10 regions

11. WASSCE PASS RATE 2014
Lowest pass rates in English are in Northern, UE, UW, Central
There are low pass rates in mathematics throughout most regions but the lowest are: Northern, UE, UW, Volta, Central
Lowest pass rates in Integrated Science: Northern, UE, Volta, Central
Lowest pass rates in Social Studies: Northern, Volta, UE, and Central. Generally, more students pass this subject than other subjects

12. How Ghana is handling the Inequalities
Discrimination about PWD
Inclusive Education Policy
Includes four policy objectives:
Improve and adapt education an related systems of all learners particularly learners with special educational needs
Promote a UDL (Universal Design Learning)/learner friendly school environment for enhancing the quality of education for all learners
Promote the development of a well-informed and trained human resource cadre for the quality delivery of IE (Inclusive Education) throughout Ghana
Ensure sustainability of Inclusive Education Implementation
Gender Inequality
Girls Participatory Approaches to Students Success (PASS)
Scholarships for girls
Renovations of SHS facilities to include the construction of female dormitories, to encourage female participation
Support for female role models in schools and communities
Regional Inequality
LEAP – (Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty) cash transfer program aimed at improving the welfare of the extremely poor – affects the access to education
GETFund – develops educational infrastructure to improve equitable access

13. Recommendation
Equity Debate

14. Recommendation Cont’d
Focus more on solutions for other forms of inequality
Race, Religion, Disabilities, Tribal
Pay attention to ensuring that children get quality education, as stated in SDG 4 ‘Ensure Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education and Promote Lifelong Learning Opportunities For All’.
This can be done through making more accessible infrastructure for those with disabilities
Training teachers with specific directives

15. REFERENCES Education Sector Performance Reports
Annual Progress Reports
Ghana Shared Growth Development Agenda

16. THANK YOU