Executive Director of Africa Education Watch, Kofi Asare, has justified the fees charged by private schools, stating they reflect market realities rather than an attempt to exploit parents.
His comments follow growing concerns from parents about the pricing structures of many private institutions, with some questioning the fairness of the charges.
Currently, public schools receive a capitation grant of GH¢15.00 per student for the entire academic year, alongside a daily food allocation of GH¢2.00. In contrast, spending per student in private schools is significantly higher.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, Mr. Asare argued that it is unrealistic to compare the operations of private schools with those of public schools given the government’s per-child allocation.
“Private schools, on a regular basis, are not cheating parents. Their pricing reflects market realities. For example, a square meal a day, or a rice meal, costs about GH¢15.00. If you are paying GH¢2.00, you will not be served the same meal in a public school,” he explained.
He also questioned the sustainability of the current school feeding programme, noting that the per-head daily allocation—raised from GH¢1.20 to GH¢1.50, and then to GH¢2.00 in the 2025 mid-year budget—remains grossly inadequate.
“Even in rural areas, you do not get eggs for GH¢2.00, so how are you supposed to provide a balanced meal with carbohydrates and protein for GH¢2.00?” he asked.
Mr. Asare called on the government to review the programme, stressing that it was originally intended to promote community involvement rather than operate solely as a procurement-driven initiative.
“It was meant for communities to feed their children with food from their farms, supplemented by what the government provides. But we have turned the community participation element into a procurement activity, and now GH¢2.00 is being used to buy food instead,” he said.
