Education access in Ghana improves, but quality remains uneven – GSS Report
Access to education in Ghana has significantly improved over the years, but the quality of education has fluctuated, according to a new report by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) and the Ministry of Education.
The Access to and Quality of Basic and Secondary Education in Ghana (2000–2023) Report, released on March 25, 2025, analyses enrolment trends, teacher availability, and student performance based on data from the Education Management Information System (EMIS).
The report highlights a sharp increase in enrolment over the past two decades. Between 2001 and 2023, Kindergarten Gross Enrolment Rates (GER) more than doubled from 51 per cent to 122 per cent, while Primary GER rose from 80 per cent to 90 per cent.
Similarly, Junior High School (JHS) GER increased from 64 per cent to 98 per cent, and Senior High School (SHS) GER tripled from 25 per cent to 72 per cent.
However, disparities remain in age-appropriate enrolment, with only 66 per cent of children aged 4-5 years enrolled in kindergarten and less than half (47 per cent) of children aged 12-14 years attending JHS at the expected age.
Gender disparities in access to education have reduced, with gender parity achieved at the primary level. However, performance gaps persist, particularly in core subjects at the JHS and SHS levels.
The report reveals that in the 2021 WASSCE, boys (70 per cent) outperformed girls (60 per cent) in Mathematics, while girls had higher pass rates in English (60 per cent) compared to boys (50 per cent).
Additionally, regional disparities in education quality remain stark, with pupil-to-trained-teacher ratios exceeding 50 in the Northern, North East, and Savannah Regions—more than twice the ratio in Greater Accra (25 pupils per trained teacher).
Launching the report at the ongoing National Education Forum, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu emphasised the importance of data-driven policy reforms.
“The findings of this report will provide invaluable insights to inform the discussions and policy decisions of the National Education Forum Planning Committee, ensuring that our strategies are grounded in data and aligned with national priorities,” he stated.
The report also assesses progress toward Ghana’s Education Strategic Plan (2018–2030), revealing that while targets for gross enrolment and gender parity have been met, national goals for net enrolment remain unachieved across all levels.
The Government Statistician Prof. Samuel Kobina Annim, Danish Ambassador Tom Noring, and National Education Forum Chairman Prof. K. T. Oduro commended Ghana’s progress in education but stressed the urgent need for greater investment in teacher training, infrastructure, and school resources.
The report serves as a key monitoring tool for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 (Quality Education), 5 (Gender Equality), and 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
