Ghana’s Supreme Court on Thursday May 14, dismissed a suit brought against government over the implementation of the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (F-CUBE).
The Progressive People’s Party, PPP, filed the suit requesting the court to compel government to implement fully the F-CUBE as provided for in the 1992 Constitution.
The party argued that since Ghana returned to constitutional democracy in 1992, successive governments had failed to enforce the constitutional provision.
This the party believes has resulted in many under-privileged children being denied education.
The PPP, led by its Founder Paa Kwesi Nduom, prayed the Supreme Court to direct the government to take the necessary steps to implement F-CUBE and ensure that all children of school going age are in school.
But the Supreme Court dismissed the suit, with reasons yet to be delivered in July this year.
Dr. Nduom, together with leaders of the PPP expressed disappointment in the decision of the court, but says they are awaiting the details of the decision.
Article 25(1)(a) of the 1992 constitution indicates that “All persons shall have the right to equal educational opportunities and facilities and with a view to achieving the full realization of that right-basic education shall be free, compulsory and available to all”.
Successive governments have over the years introduced some interventions to support this initiative but the PPP believes there are some sections of the policy which government and educational authorities in Ghana have overlooked.
The party’s flagbearer, Paa Kwesi Nduom believes government’s failure to implement some sections of the policy partly contributed to Ghana being placed at the bottom in the recent global school rankings.
The Organization of Economic Cooperation Development(OECD) in a report released on Wednesday said “If Ghana, the lowest ranked country, achieved basic skills for all its 15-year-olds, it would expand its current GDP by 38 times, over the lifetime of today’s youngsters.”
Meanwhile the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has indicated the global school rankings has vindicated its flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo’s advocacy for a free Senior High School (SHS) education.
By: 3news.com/Ghana
