The Executive Director of the Ghana National Council of Private Schools, Obenfo Nana Kwesi Gyetuah says government must consider promoting the local production of textbooks to help reduce the cost of education in Ghana.
According to him, the cost of books is one of the factors contributing to the rising cost of private education, and stronger support for local printing could help ease the burden.
Speaking to Isaac Addae on Morning Starr, Obenfo Nana Kwesi Gyetuah questioned why, despite the large number of learners in the private sector, there is no policy requiring or encouraging textbooks used by schools to be printed locally.
He said such a measure could help bring down the cost of books for parents.
“How is it possible that in a country where we have over three million learners in the private sector, we don’t have some form of regulation from the Ministry or government requiring our books to be printed locally? That could help ease the prices.
He also questioned the role of the Ghana Publishing Corporation in supporting the production of textbooks for private schools.
“We have Ghana Publishing Corporation. What are they doing as an institution to support print books for even private schools?”
Mr. Obenfo Nana Kwesi Gyetuah said there was a need for engagement between stakeholders and the Ghana Publishing Corporation to explore partnerships that could help address some of the challenges affecting textbook prices.
He maintained that the cost of textbooks is one of the factors that must be considered when discussing the overall cost of private education.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Pamela Quayeson
