GETFund Administrator advocates partnerships to fund education infrastructure

The Administrator of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), Paul Adjei, has called for innovative and diversified funding sources to address Ghana’s school infrastructure needs across all educational levels.

"To build the future of education, we must rethink how we fund, construct and manage our schools.

"Relying solely on GETFund for school infrastructure is no longer sustainable. We must harness private sector investments, community support and global partnerships," Mr Adjei stated in a paper presented at the National Education Forum in Ho.

Over-reliance on GETFund

The forum, which was on the theme: “Transforming Education for a Sustainable Future”, was officially launched by President John Dramani Mahama who encouraged all Ghanaians to actively participate in shaping a comprehensive blueprint for the development of education in the country.

Delivering a paper on “Government and stakeholder partnerships in school infrastructure development in Ghana” during one of the forum’s five breakout sessions, Mr Adjei highlighted the need for cost-effective and time-efficient solutions such as high-quality prefabricated materials and green solutions in school construction projects.

Mr Adjei emphasised that the nation’s heavy reliance on GETFund as the primary funding source for educational infrastructure was unsustainable.

He said adequate school infrastructure was a fundamental component of quality education, adding that “it provides students with safe, conducive learning environments that foster academic success and personal growth”.

The GETFund Administrator observed that the availability and quality of school infrastructure varied significantly across regions, where many rural and underserved communities faced severe deficits in classrooms, sanitation facilities and modern learning resources. 

Infrastructure gap

He said the country’s education sector faced a pressing infrastructure gap that negatively impacted learning outcomes.

Mr Adjei observed that the urban-rural disparities were glaring, as schools in the rural areas faced more significant infrastructure challenges than their urban counterparts, even though there were equally many schools in the urban areas also struggling with substantial infrastructure issues.

He said, for instance, that many students continued to study in temporary structures, while a number of schools lacked proper sanitation, furniture and access to digital learning resources.

Another major gap Mr Adjei identified was the inadequate teacher accommodation, pointing out that the lack of housing for teachers in rural areas affected teacher retention and overall educational quality.

He said with all those challenges, it was evident that the government alone could not meet the financial burden of  infrastructure expansion.

Mr Adjei, therefore, called for a more collaborative approach as the demand for quality education grew.

The GETFund Administrator urged stakeholders to explore alternative financing modules, including private sector investments, community-driven initiatives, diaspora contributions, endowment funds, philanthropic foundations and development partnerships to support the construction, maintenance and management of educational facilities.

“Collaboration, innovation and inclusive development will ensure all Ghanaian children have access to quality learning environments.

“Together, we can build a nation where education is a catalyst for transformation and prosperity,” Mr Adjei added.