To the NDC one of its greatest achievements is the elimination of schools under trees. But from the NDC’s own budgets, manifestes and greenbooks, different figures are given to Ghanaians with regard to the total number of schools under trees and the number of schools they have eliminated. So why these inconsistencies?
‘‘Eliminate the remaining 60% of identified Schools Under Trees and provide decent facilities for all rural schools’’(NDC 2012 manifesto page 8)
“Schools Under Trees will end By 2016” – Mahama, Monday 23 December 2013 ghanaweb.com
‘‘Complete the process of eliminating the remaining public schools under trees. (The NDC’s 2016 manifesto under the theme OUR COMMITMENT IN 2017 – 2021).
We are in 2016 and has all the schools under trees been eliminated as promised by President Mahama and the NDC? By the way, how far with the 200 community schools and the Ten Teacher Training Colleges? To the NDC, one of its topmost achievement under the Educational sector is the elimination of schools under trees. In this discussion, we will look at the total number of schools under trees with reference from all the NDC Green Books, Manifestoes and the various Budgets starting from 2010.
2010 BUDGET
‘‘As I am speaking now 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. (Making the total of 5,227 schools under trees) Out of which 165 school buildings have been built to accommodate primary and Junior High schools under trees. 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 the shift system’’ Page 41 and 42 respectively.
‘‘Replacing schools under trees; so far out of the 4,320 schools under trees, almost 1,000 schools under trees have been eliminated across the country’’ Page 3, point 16.
2011BUDGET.
‘‘175 Class room blocks were completed across the country to replace schools under trees’’
OVERVIEW OF THE BETTER GHANA AGENDA BOOK BY THE GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATION’S TEAM, APRIL 2012.
‘‘Out of the 4,320 schools under trees that existed across the country in 2008, over 1,250 have been replaced. Many more will be completed to bring the figure to 1,728 by the middle of 2012’’ Page 16.
MINISTER OKUJETO ABLAKWA IN 2012
According to Okujeto Ablakwa, then deputy Minister of Information, the NDC Government has eliminated 1,700 schools under trees, citing Osu Presby schools as examples. Let’s look at some publications after this statement was issued. Presby Church Exposes NDC Lies Over Schools under trees – New Statesman November 9, 2012. According to the Presbyterian Church of Ghana its basic schools on the NDC governments published list of schools eliminated under trees were never under trees citing Osu Presby Boys Primary, Osu Presby Girls Primary / JHS and Osu Salem “5” Primary as examples. A retired educationist and a Catechist in the Kwahu Mpraeso District of the Presbyterian Church, S. D. Amankwa told the New statesman that none of the Presby Schools on the list were schools under trees. For example the list includes kwahu Jejeti Presby Primary which was established in 1951 had never beenamong the school under trees.
NDC 2012 MANIFESTO.
‘‘Eliminated 40% of the schools under trees in less than 4years with the construction of over 1,700 new Basic School buildings out of a total of about 4,300’’ Page 15.
2013 BUDGET.
‘‘1,683 Schools under trees are being constructed’’ Page 149.
2014 BUDGET.
‘‘Under the programme of removing schools under trees, 983 class room blocks representing 43.3% out of the total of 2,269 so far has been completed and handed over’’ Page 62.
2016 BUDGET.
‘‘Mr. Speaker, as part of effort to improve facilities in schools at the basic education level, government continue to eliminate schools under trees. Under this programme, a total of 1,714 school project out of the 2,578 were completed and handed over. Government plans to complete the remaining 864 schools under trees projects within the medium term’’.Page124 item 651.
A total of 1,614 out of 2,578 basic school projects have been completed under the schools under trees programme. The remaining are due for completion in the medium term. Page 8
KOFI ADAMS.
Kofi Adams, the NDC’S National Organizer and the National Campaign Coordinator on 7th July, 2016 on Asempa FM in an interview with Oman Hene Kwabena Asante State that the John Mahama led administration has eliminated over 4000 Schools Under Trees.
2016 NDC MANIFESTO.
A total of 1,614 out of 2,578 basic schools projects have been completed under the removal of Schools – Under – Trees programme, providing brick and mortar shelter for 484,200 pupil. page 10.
THE LOGIC YOU NEED TO KNOW According to the NDC Budget (from 2010 to 2016) the total number of SUTE is 5,946. To the NDC’S Green Book (from 2010 to 2016) the total number of SUTE is 4,342. From the NDC’S Manifesto (from 2012 and 2016) the total number of SUTE is 3,314. According to Kofi Adams. (The National Campaign Coordinator) the total number of SUTE is 4000. From 2011 to 2013, the budget did not provide the total number of schools under trees nationwide but rather provided the number of schools under trees eliminated. In 2014, the total number of schools under trees was 2,269. In the 2015 budget, no record was provided on schools under trees. Two things will be involved; either the figure in 2014 will be reduced or will not be reduced. So how come the total number of schools under trees in 2016 (2,578) is more than the total number of schools under trees in 2014. To the NDC’S Green Book in April 2012, the total number of schools under trees nationwide was 4,320 but to the NDC 2012 manifesto, the total number of schools under trees reduced to 4,300. How come the total number of schools under trees eliminated in the 2016 budget (1,714) is more than the total number of schools under trees eliminated in the 2016 Green Book and Manifesto of the NDC (1,614)? Note, the 2016 budget was read before the launch of the 2016 NDC Manifesto. According to the 2016 NDC manifesto and budget, the total number of Schools Under Trees across the nation is the same figure(2,578). However, when you add the total number of Schools Under Trees eliminated across the country as published by both the NDC 2016 budget(1,714) and the 2016 manifesto(1,614) you will have 3,328.how come the total number of school under trees eliminated(3,328) is more than the total number of schools under trees across the nation(2,578)? 10. Why has government not published the list of all Schools Under Trees in its district and regional levels or breakdown? CHANGING MAHAMA,TRANSFORMING GHANA…
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