Executive Director of Africa Education Watch, Kofi Asare has defended the fees charged by private schools, insisting they reflect economic realities rather than an attempt to take advantage of parents.
His remarks come amid increasing complaints from parents over the cost of private education, with many questioning whether the charges are fair.
Mr. Asare noted that public schools operate under vastly different conditions, with the government allocating just GH¢15.00 per child annually as a capitation grant, and GH¢2.00 daily for meals. By contrast, he said, the cost of providing education and meals in private schools is significantly higher.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, he argued that it was unrealistic to compare the two systems. “Private schools are generally not exploiting parents. Their fees reflect the market. For instance, a decent rice meal costs around GH¢15.00. If public schools are feeding students on GH¢2.00 a day, the quality will naturally differ,” he explained.
Mr. Asare also criticized the sustainability of the school feeding programme, pointing out that even with recent budget increases from GH¢1.20 to GH¢1.50, and now GH¢2.00 per child, it remains inadequate to provide a balanced diet.
“In many rural areas, you can’t even buy an egg for GH¢2.00. How can you provide both carbohydrates and protein with that amount?” he questioned.
He urged the government to revisit the programme’s original purpose, which was to encourage community participation in feeding children using locally produced food, supplemented by government support. Instead, he said, the initiative has become overly procurement-focused, with the meagre GH¢2.00 now expected to cover all meal costs.
