CDD Calls For Effective Distribution Of Text Books

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has failed in monitoring the distribution of core textbooks to pupils in basic government schools, according to a research conducted by the Center for Democratic Development (CDD) Ghana. The research highlighted the challenges faced in Government�s policy on textbook development and distribution which mandates each pupil enrolled in any public basic school to have access to textbooks on English, Science and Math. The study also found out that the education sector is plagued with poor record keeping, substantial leakages in the supply and distribution of core textbooks among others. A Senior Researcher with CDD, Daniel Armah-Attoh called on the Education Ministry to establish a text book management information system to track the needs, procurements, deliveries and inventories. This system according to him should also �be accompanied by training of key staff at all levels. There is also the need to institutionalize school text book selection committees to increase the school level actors involved in choice of books used in their schools.� Mr. Armah-Attoh added that �all store keepers and logistics officers should be tasked to furnish all district offices with a total allocation and actual text books sent to districts and schools and all school heads should be mandated to paste this information on the school notice boards for easy access to the school management committees.� The Deputy Director of the Ghana Education Service, Charles Tsegah, however, mentioned that the research findings by CDD will be looked into and recommendations implemented. �In between the transit point where the items are transported by the publisher right down to the district office and then to the school, so many things happen and it�s important to understand the dynamics that go on,� he explained. He added: �If you appreciate the terrain that many of our teachers and head teachers have to go through, to come and take books and carry them on very unusual means of transportation back to school and a whole range of things, you will begin to understand some of the challenges they have when some of these leakages begin to pop up.�