The Executive Director of the Institute for Education Studies, Dr. Peter Partey Anti, has emphasised the urgent need to expand the sources of funding for education in Ghana.

He believes that broadening the financial scope will help address persistent challenges in the sector, particularly those affecting the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy and curriculum reforms at the basic level.

"We need to expand the scope of funds that we use to fund education and in doing that, we need to pursue efficiency measures and ensuring that what is meant for education, is used for education," he said.

Speaking on JoyNews PM Express on Tuesday, February 25, Dr Anti stressed that if discussions around the education sector had been held earlier, many of the difficulties encountered in recent years could have been avoided.

He pointed out that education plays a crucial role in the lives of all citizens, making it imperative for decision-making in the sector to be more inclusive.

“Education affects every single household in this country. Every individual is a stakeholder. You cannot simply have three or four people in a room, or just the Minister or the President, making decisions without broad consultations,” he noted.

Dr Anti warned that poor educational policies could have devastating consequences, potentially harming an entire generation in an instant.

He commended the approach taken by the National Education Forum, expressing hope that the outcomes of their discussions would lead to meaningful reforms in the sector.

Dr Anti further explained that ensuring the sustainability and effectiveness of education financing requires not only expanding funding sources but also implementing efficiency measures to prevent resource wastage.

He stressed that funds allocated for education must be used for their intended purpose and that financial management within the sector should focus on bridging inequality rather than deepening existing disparities.

Additionally, Dr. Anti called for the adoption of innovative funding models to ensure sustainable investment in education.

He stated that several such models are available and should be explored to enhance the quality and accessibility of education in the country.