"Given the scarcity of resources, it is deplorable that the Education Outcome Fund (EOF) for Africa and Middle East intends to transfer tax-payer funds intended for the well-being of children to private investors who seek to profit from education."
This is the call of EI’s member organisations, GNAT, NAGRAT and TEWU who met to evaluate their national campaign plan aimed at halting and reversing the commercialisation of education in Ghana. Part of EI’s Global Response to the growing commercialisation and privatisation of education, the evaluation and planning meeting culminated in the presentation of a communique to the Minister of Education at a public event attended by representatives of the three unions and civil society organisations. The communique notes "deep concern regarding reports of the establishment of a new global fund for education - the Education Outcomes Fund for Africa and Middle East" - the focus of which will be on non-state actors. It goes on to note "this will contribute to the commercialisation and commodification of education and legitimise profit making in the provision of education and weaken efforts to strengthen and expand the provision of inclusive and equitable quality free education for all consistent with Sustainable Development Goal 4. Given the scarcity of resources, it is deplorable that the EOF intends to transfer tax-payer funds intended for the well-being of children to private investors who seek to profit from education. EOF's promotion of schooling models including charter schools/PPPs and fee charging, so called, ‘low-cost’ private schools ignores the growing body of evidence which shows that privatisation does not improve access to education nor improve outcomes in education but rather deepens inequality and segregation denying the right of all children to quality education.” The communique ends by calling on the government of Ghana and the international community to demonstrate their commitment to SDG4 by fulfilling their obligation to ensure the provision of quality, free public education for all.A full copy of the communique can be found here. EI is grateful for the support provided by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) in the organisation of this event.