Eduwatch 2025 Report: Ghana's Education Policies Show Measurable Gains Amidst Deepening District Inequities

Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch) has released its 2025 Annual Education Policy Monitoring Report, signaling a mixture of measurable progress and persistent systemic challenges within Ghana's education sector. While the report acknowledges significant advancements in flagship initiatives such as the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) program and capitation grant disbursements, it underscores a troubling trend of inequitable resource allocation and regulatory weaknesses. Launched with support from Oxfam, the study evaluated educational delivery across ten diverse districts, revealing that while national policies are making strides, the benefits are not being felt equally across the country.

On the positive side, the report highlights improved efficiency in the disbursement of capitation grants, with nine out of ten surveyed districts receiving funds in a timely manner. The Ghana School Feeding Program also saw improvements in coverage and quality, although the report noted that supply delays occasionally hampered operations. A standout success mentioned by Eduwatch is the Free Sanitary Pads Program, which has positively impacted girls' school attendance by addressing menstrual hygiene needs. Furthermore, there has been a visible expansion in school infrastructure, contributing to increased access at various levels of the education system.

However, these gains are overshadowed by deep-seated inefficiencies and disparities in the distribution of essential resources. The monitoring revealed that many schools still suffer from a lack of basic furniture and textbooks, with infrastructure projects often distributed unevenly. A critical finding regarding human resources suggests that Ghana’s primary issue is not an absolute shortage of teachers, but rather an inequitable deployment system that leaves rural or disadvantaged districts understaffed while urban areas are over-served. Additionally, the report expressed grave concern over a significant rise in examination malpractice, which threatens the integrity of the educational system.

A major focus of the report’s recommendations is the urgent reform of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF). Eduwatch argues that the current DACF allocation formula is flawed, as it inadvertently favors better-resourced districts while leaving those with the greatest needs underfunded. The organization is calling for the inclusion of "education deprivation indicators" into the formula to ensure that funding reaches districts with the largest infrastructure deficits. Simultaneously, the report highlights the chronic underfunding of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). Currently, TVET receives only 2.5% of the pre-tertiary education budget, a figure Eduwatch insists must be increased to at least 6% to meet national development goals.

In its conclusion, Eduwatch emphasizes that bridging these gaps requires more than just increased spending; it necessitates a coordinated, accountable approach to educational financing. Stakeholders are urged to prioritize the needs of marginalized districts to prevent a widening gap between urban and rural learners. As Ghana moves toward its 2025 educational targets, the report serves as a critical reminder that true progress will be measured not just by the successes of national programs, but by the equity and resilience of the entire education system.