Education Minister-designate, Haruna Iddrisu has committed to addressing the disparities in educational access and infrastructure between northern and southern Ghana.

According to the Tamale South MP, there is a need for equity, quality, and inclusivity in the country’s education system.

He said this during his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, January 20, 2025.

“It’s important to recognize that as a country, there is a north-south divide when it comes to access to education,” Haruna Iddrisu noted.

"The first school was established in the south in 1876, but in the north, we only got ours around 1951. This historical gap has created a deficit that must be addressed.”

He highlighted the higher participation rates in the north under the Free Senior High School policy, attributing it to poverty being a major barrier to accessing quality education.

"So you can imagine the gap and the deficit even Achimota School around 1924 at the time that Tamale Secondary School, which became the first in the north. We will work to close that gap. Indeed, even for the implementation of the Free Senior High School, it is noted that the participation rate is very high in Northern Ghana," he added.

"It explains that poverty likely hindered many from accessing education. The focus now should be on quality, equality, and equity,” he said.

The Minister-designate revealed alarming statistics about infrastructure deficits in northern Ghana, as well as in the Oti and Western North regions. He pointed out that there is a shortfall of approximately 5,000 facilities across basic, junior high, and senior high schools in these regions.

With the president entrusting him with the education portfolio, Haruna Iddrisu pledged to take proactive measures to address the inequities.

"I will work towards equity and improving the quality of education at all levels. Affirmative action interventions will be necessary to correct historical imbalances and close the gaps,” he said.