Ghana

With the government’s introduction of the capitation grant (free education) and school feeding programme in public schools in Ghana, it is important for school management systems to be transparent to ensure that funds meant for educating children are not abused. Therefore the participation of everyone in all decision making processes is critical to bring about the changes in the lives of school going children. In the year under review, CALID, a partner in the North West regional programme, intensified the tracking of the supply of textbooks to schools, their availability for use by students as well as the management of capitation grant by schools in the Tamale metropolis.

Sensitization to solicit communities’ involvement in the tracking of resources in basic schools was done in collaboration with the media. These activities created awareness among right holders for them to play their roles in the acquisition of these rights. Radio discussions on resource tracking by communities were held in 16 schools in 12 communities in collaboration with CALID and Diamond FM, a local FM station based in Tamale. This programme generated keen interest in communities in school governance especially with respect to the use of resources allocated to schools. This interest is evidenced by the numerous allegations of malfeasance made by community members against basic school management in communities. The impact of this initiative has been that in most communities in the region, school managers are now wary of this “community eye” and have intensified record keeping particularly on the use of capitation grant.