Reforming the educational system in Ghana under the fourth republic : a reality or a myth ?

Abstract EN

There has always been a consensus around the view that if a country targets the prosperity of its nation, it has to work hard for an efficient and successful educational system.

Ghana was one of the African countries that exhibited a great potential in this field at independence.

nevertheless, as too frequent government changes occurred, often under military overthrows, education increasingly regressed.

with the proclamation of the fourth republic in 1992 after long years of military rule, the country embarked on an avalanche of reforms primarily meant at promoting the sector.

the present article is an attempt to highlight these reforms and assess to what extent Ghanaian official allegations of their success were pertinent.

the results show that despite the rise in primary school net enrolment rate, these reforms, often ill-conceived by non-professional staff, underscored quantity at the detriment of quality.

because of several constraints and barriers, notably administrative and financial mismanagement, they failed to meet expectations and eradicate from the roots such social ills and abnormalities as child labor, a major impediment to a successful school system.