By: Evans Attah Akangla| ignewss|
The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Attah yesterday, during the 2024 Budget presentation in parliament, disclosed significant initiatives undertaken by the ministry.
This included providing learning grants to 10,579 basic schools, supporting the implementation of the School Performance Improvement Plan (SPIP), and conducting management training for an equal number of head teachers on performance contracts and SPIP preparation.
The Minister highlighted efforts to enhance educational quality, noting that 70,000 basic school teachers received training in the Differentiated Learning Approach to improve teaching methods and learning outcomes nationwide.
In his final budget presentation before the 2024 general election, Ofori Attah outlined substantial contributions made by the ministry, such as supplying 51,508 pieces of furniture, distributing 9.5 million textbooks, and providing 273,075 copies of teachers’ guides to basic schools across the country.
He also shared details on the School Feeding Programme, benefiting 10,832 public basic schools, engaging 34,350 caterers and cooks, and making payments totaling Ghc741,624,231.72 for the academic terms of 2022 and 2023.
Regarding the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) program, the ministry disbursed five-cycle cash grants to 350,551 extremely poor households, amounting to Ghc298,580,972.35, with the final cycle set to be completed by December 2023.
Notably, this support extended to 1,438 alleged witches in witches’ camps and 278 cured persons in Leprosariums at Ankaful, Jirapa, and Weija.