No More Schools Under Trees, No Shift System�Budget

Government has given the strongest indication yet of its resolve to upgrade and streamline the education sector by initiating a programme to remove schools under trees. To this end, government will within the next 3 years, put up permanent buildings for every school currently operating under trees. Staggering figures show that there are 2,349 Kindergarten Schools, 2,502 Primary Schools, and 376 Junior High Schools in the country for which classes are held under trees. The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Dr. Kwabena Duffuor who revealed this during his presentation of the on the Floor of Parliament on Wednesday, also disclosed that another area of re-structuring the educational sector, which government intends undertaking, is the elimination of the school shift system. Currently, 43 Kindergarten Schools, 382 primary Schools and 99 Junior High Schools in the country that are still running shifts system which according to Dr Kwabena Duffuor, is not healthy for the development of the country. The Finance Minister also announced a free education package for all disabled children of school going age by 2010. �Madam Speaker, in the next three years, Government will provide permanent buildings for every school currently operating under a tree and also expand facilities in schools running a shift system. Provision has also been made for the construction and furnishing of 165 school buildings to accommodate Primary and Junior High schools under trees and 250 permanent structures for Kindergartens," he disclosed. He added that "Government will also continue to pursue policies that will protect the vulnerable and disadvantaged in society and give them equal opportunities. Beginning in fiscal year 2010, Government will provide free education to all disabled children of school going age�.Government also recognizes the need for quality education for all children irrespective of where they reside. The challenge however is getting teachers to deprived areas of the country in pursuit of this objective,� Dr. Duffuor said.