ABOLITION OF SCHOOL FEES IN GHANAIAN BASIC SCHOOLS: QUALITY ISSUES AT POLICY AND IMPLEMENTATION LEVEL

Abstract

This study deals primarily with the subject of quality education at the basic level. It sets out to find out how the Ministry of Education in Ghana conceives quality education and policies and measures put in place in the Education Strategic Plan (ESP) to make sure that quality education is achieved following the abolition of school fees which led to increases in enrolment figures in basic schools. Two schools were selected in the Dangme West District (DWD) for the study.

The methodological paradigm used in this study is qualitative whiles case study is used as the research design. Interviews and relevant documents serve as methods of data collection. Purposive and convenient sampling were used to select participants of interest to this study who are MoE official, DEO official, teachers and pupils of two basic schools in the DWD in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. A thematic analysis of findings reveals a gap between policy and practice where most of the policies meant to ensure quality education are not being properly implemented. Based on the findings, some recommendations are made for policy and practice and for further research.