Deputy Minister nominee for Education, Clement Apaak, has expressed concern over the continued existence of schools operating under trees, calling it a national disgrace that undermines Ghana’s development.

His comments come in response to revelations by the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, who disclosed that approximately 5,000 schools nationwide still lack proper infrastructure.

Speaking during his vetting on Tuesday, February 25, Mr Apaak stated, "The spectacle of schools under trees does not befit the status and age of our nation."

He explained that "this unfortunate reality is largely a result of our inability to keep pace with the growing demand for educational infrastructure. As our population expands, we continue to produce more children, but we are not matching this growth with adequate school facilities."

He further stated that many communities, witnessing population growth and an increase in school-age children, often take the initiative to establish makeshift schools under trees due to the absence of formal infrastructure.

The Builsa South MP described the development as a national issue.

Highlighting the urgency of the matter, he called for a united effort to address the challenge, despite the country’s current economic difficulties.

"We must come together, even in these challenging times, to find the necessary resources to eliminate schools under trees. Education is a right, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure every child has access to proper learning facilities," he said.