2008年-世界发展银行全球_Strategies_for_Sustainable_Financing_of_Secondary_Education_in_Sub-Saharan_Africa___Appendix_4_-_Costs_and_Financing_of_Secondary_Education_in_Ghana_A_Situational_Analysis_41页_794kb

Summary of Appendix 4: Costs and Financing of Secondary Education in Ghana

Core Content

This appendix provides a situational analysis of the costs and financing of secondary education in Ghana, focusing on the impact of the 1987 education reforms and subsequent changes in the education system. It examines the challenges in expanding access and participation, the role of cost recovery measures, and the implications of increasing expenditures on education.

Main Reforms and Changes

• 1987 Education Reforms:

  • Reduced the length of pretertiary education from 17 to 12 years.
  • Introduced community-based day secondary schools to improve access.
  • Diversified the curriculum to cater to a broader range of talents.
  • Shifted financial responsibility to parents, including increased boarding and feeding fees, and the gradual elimination of subsidies.

• 2007 Proposals:

  • Suggested further restructuring to 2 years of kindergarten, 6 years of primary, 3 years of junior high school, and 4 years of senior high school.

Access and Participation Challenges

• Enrollment Trends:

  • Senior-secondary school enrollments increased from 153,000 in 1987/88 to 207,000 in 2000/01, representing a 33% growth.
  • Growth declined in the late 1990s.
  • Private sector enrollment grew rapidly, by over 20% in a single year.

• Cost Barriers:

  • Boarding costs are significantly higher than day school costs, with boarding costs being about 14 times those of day students (excluding uniforms).
  • Feeding costs account for about 80% of total secondary education costs.
  • Low-income households, especially those in rural areas, face significant financial constraints.
  • Poverty and cultural norms often discourage investment in girls' education.

• School Infrastructure:

  • Many community-based schools have low enrollments, leading to high unit costs.
  • Rural schools often lack boarding facilities and suffer from inefficiencies.
  • Public schools are more likely to be underenrolled in some regions.

Financing and Expenditure Trends

• Cost Recovery Measures:

  • Boarding and feeding subsidies were reduced by 50% and later eliminated as part of World Bank conditions.
  • These measures aimed to improve the financial sustainability of the education system.

• Expenditure Allocation:

  • Government expenditure on senior-secondary education has been increasing, while that on primary education has been decreasing.
  • In 2006, senior-secondary education accounted for a fifth of total education expenditure, and primary for a third.
  • In 2003, about 40% was spent on primary education, and 15% on senior-secondary.

• School Cost per Learner:

  • In 1998, the cost per learner in senior-secondary was about 4 times that of primary education.
  • By 2007, this ratio had decreased to about 3 times.

School Structure and Distribution

• Public vs. Private Schools:

  • Most senior-secondary schools are public.
  • Private schools are fewer but growing.
  • In 2007, there were 605 senior-secondary schools, with 127 being private.

• Geographical Distribution:

  • More senior-secondary schools are located in rural areas than urban ones.
  • Over 60% of students in each region are day students, with the Central region having the highest proportion of boarders.

Policy Implications

• Need for Sustainable Growth:

  • The paper highlights the need for sustainable financing and investment in secondary education.
  • It suggests that increasing investment in basic education may be more cost-effective than expanding senior-secondary education.

• Quality Concerns:

  • Poor student achievement at the senior-secondary level is linked to the quality of basic education.
  • Improving instructional quality, teacher supply, and supervision is essential for better outcomes.

• Policy Recommendations:

  • The government should consider expanding the number of "good" senior-secondary schools and technical/vocational institutes in each district.
  • Addressing the financial burden on households is critical for increasing access and participation.

Summary of Key Findings

• Costs and financing are central to access to secondary education.
• Public schools are more underenrolled and operate at higher costs in some regions.
• Private schools are growing but face limitations in terms of affordability.
• Community-based day schools have improved access but still face challenges.
• Poverty and cultural norms significantly affect enrollment, especially for girls.
• Investing in basic education quality is more effective than extending the senior-secondary duration.
• There is a need for policy options that ensure equitable access and financial sustainability.