{"id":71718,"date":"2025-07-11T14:17:41","date_gmt":"2025-07-11T14:17:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=71718"},"modified":"2025-07-11T14:17:41","modified_gmt":"2025-07-11T14:17:41","slug":"isser-report-warns-of-falling-basic-education-enrollment-stalled-healthcare-access","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=71718","title":{"rendered":"ISSER Report warns of falling Basic Education enrollment, stalled healthcare access"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Ghana Social Development Outlook (GSDO) 2024, has raised red flags over declining basic education enrolment and ongoing healthcare infrastructure gaps, despite several government policies and major investments in both sectors.<\/p>\n

The flagship social development tracker, launched on Thursday in Accra by the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) of the University of Ghana, provides a data-driven analysis of Ghana\u2019s progress in key social indicators, including education and health.<\/p>\n

\"ISSER<\/figure>\n

It calls for urgent policy reforms and deeper stakeholder collaboration to sustain gains and reverse worrying trends.<\/p>\n

Presenting highlights of the GSDO 2024 Report, Dr. Martha A. Awo, Senior Research Fellow and Head, Social Division of ISSER, revealed troubling signs at the foundational levels of Ghana\u2019s school system.<\/p>\n

She said while the Net Enrolment Rate (NER) at the Senior High School (SHS) level surged from below 30% in 2017 to 70% between 2019 and 2020, enrolment at the Junior High School (JHS) level dropped from 50% to 45% over the same period.<\/p>\n

\"ISSER<\/figure>\n

Similarly, Dr. Awo said primary school enrolment\u2014previously as high as 91%\u2014has declined to an average of 80%, indicating poor transition rates and a neglect of the basic education sector.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe decline in enrolment at the JHS and primary levels is a reflection of a situation of taking our eyes off basic education,\u201d the report warns.<\/p>\n

The analysis identifies delays in disbursing capitation grants and non-payment of school feeding caterers as critical bottlenecks.<\/p>\n

With caterers receiving just GH\u00a20.90 per child, the report deems it \u201cwoefully inadequate\u201d for providing a nutritious meal, further compromising school attendance and retention.<\/p>\n

\"ISSER<\/figure>\n

The chapter on Education commends policies that have improved access for girls and recommends scaling up such interventions. However, it cautions against over-reliance on high-visibility policies like the Free SHS Programme (FSHSP) at the expense of foundational education.<\/p>\n

Key Education Recommendations<\/p>\n