Education in Ghana

The Republic of Ghana has 12,630 primary schools, 5,450 junior secondary schools, 503 senior secondary schools, 21 training colleges, 18 technical institutions, two diploma-awarding institutions and five universities serving a population of 18 million; [cite web
publisher=Ghana Government|url=http://www.ghana.gov.gh/schools_and_universities|title=Schools and Universities|accessdate=2007-12-22] this means that most Ghanaians have relatively easy access to good education. In contrast, at the time of independence in 1957, Ghana had only one university and a handful of secondary schools. In addition, research in the Ga District has found that approximately 15% of the children in Ga attended private schools unrecognised by the government. [cite web
last =Tooley| first =James| title =Private Schools for the Poor| work =Education Next| publisher =Leland Stanford Junior University| url =http://www.hoover.org/publications/ednext/3217591.html
accessdate=2007-12-22] In the past decade, Ghana's spending on education has been between 28 percent and 40 percent of its annual budget. However, according to Odeneho Ababio, President of the National House of Chiefs, many children only have access to basic education because of the private schools in their communities. [cite web
title =Role of private school is vital - Odeneho Ababio| work =Education| publisher =Modern Ghana
date =2007-12-16| url =http://www.modernghana.com/GhanaHome/NewsArchive/news_details.asp?id=VFZSVmQwMVVTVEU9&menu_id=1&sub_menu_id=0
accessdate =2007-12-22 ]

Primary and middle school education is free and it is planned that it will be mandatory when enough teachers and facilities are available to accommodate all students. Pupils are enrolled in a nursery school and kindergarten prior to their 6-year primary education at age six. Under educational reforms implemented in 1987, they pass into a new junior secondary school system for 3 years of academic training combined with technical and vocational training, where they pass a Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

Those wishing to continue with their education move into the 3-year senior secondary school program. Entrance to universities is by examination following completion of senior secondary school. School enrollment totals almost 2 million: 1.3 million primary; 107,600 middle; 48,900 secondary; 21,280 technical; 11,300 teacher training; and 5,600 university.

Ghana Institute of Languages is one of the oldest Institutes to learn foreign languages.It is has three branches in Accra,Kumasi and Tamale.In Accra the Institute is situated in Adabraka ,in the old campus of Workers college not far from TUC.The Institute consists of three schools;the school of Languages,the school of Bilingual Secretary,and the school of Translation. Seven foreign modern languages are learnt there, namely English, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian and Arabic.The institute has about 2,000 students in the academic year 2008.

There is currently an on-going educational reform in Ghana, and teaching is mainly in English, Ghana's official language.

ee also

*List of universities in Ghana
*List of Senior Secondary schools in Ghana

External links

* [http://www.ghanauniversities.com Universities of Ghana Overseas Office]
* [http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/education/universities.html Ghanaweb.com - Universities in Ghana]
* [http://www.nab.gov.gh/nabsite/pages/accredited_institute3.php?skey=univ&Search=Search National Accreditation Board - Ghana : Universities]
* [http://www.nab.gov.gh/nabsite/pages/accredited_institute3.php?skey=unicol&Search=Search National Accreditation Board - Ghana : University Colleges]
* [http://www.edughana.net/searchsecondary.htm Ministry of Education of Ghana:Senior Secondary Schools]
* [http://www.ghana.gov.gh/studying/education/index.php Ghana Education Service on Ghana Government website]
* [http://www.teachinginghana.com Teaching in Ghana blog]
* [http://www.adeanet.org/wgesa/en/doc/ghana/contents.htm Review of Education Sector Analysis in Ghana 1987-1998]

References