By Emmanuel Bamfo 
Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, launched a scathing counterattack, telling Adutwum straight to his face that he left behind a completely broken and despondent educational system. The heated back-and-forth has re-ignited massive public debate over Free SHS funding, textbook shortages, and infrastructure decay across our public schools.
Ever watched two seasoned politicians trade jabs and wondered who actually holds the truth? IMO, watching past ministers claim they built a paradise while current leaders inherit chaos remains the ultimate political spectator sport!
What Sparked the Fiery Parliamentary Exchange?
The drama unfolded during a parliamentary session reviewing the state of public education in Ghana. Dr. Adutwum aggressively defended his tenure, boasting about STEM centers, school modernization, and overall access improvements.
However, Haruna Iddrisu refused to let those shiny claims slide without a harsh reality check. He cut through the political rhetoric, highlighting the grim daily struggles that students, teachers, and parents faced under Adutwum’s watch.
Key Complaints Highlighted by Haruna Iddrisu
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Severe Textbook Shortages: Basic schools spent years waiting for curriculum-aligned textbooks after major educational reforms.
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Debt and Funding Delays: Free SHS buffer stock suppliers routinely protested outside ministries over unpaid arrears.
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Abandoned Infrastructure: Uncompleted E-blocks and overcrowded classrooms littered several rural districts across the country.
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Low Teacher Morale: Teacher unions constantly threatened strikes over unpaid allowances and delayed promotions.
I remember visiting my cousin’s public school two years ago, and teachers literally had to rely on downloaded PDF files on personal phones because official textbooks didn’t exist yet. You cannot build a modern educational legacy when basic primary classrooms lack simple printed books.
The Reality Behind the Shiny STEM Promises
While fancy new STEM schools look fantastic on TV news broadcasts, millions of children in everyday primary schools still sit on broken desks or bare floors.
Focusing heavily on high-profile flagship projects while ignoring fundamental basics created a massive gap in basic education quality.
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Selective Development: Polished flagship projects masked widespread neglect in rural basic schools.
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Double-Track Stress: The double-track calendar kept exhausting parents, students, and teachers alike.
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Financial Strains: Debt accumulation severely paralyzed government supply chains and feeding programs.
FYI, building one futuristic STEM center doesn’t automatically fix ten thousand elementary schools operating without electricity or textbooks!
Ghanaian parents and students care far more about functional classrooms and timely textbooks than political grandstanding in Parliament. Both sides must stop playing blame games and focus squarely on sustainable funding and genuine reform.
Also Read: https://ghananewspage.com/Teacher unions demand apology from muntaka over wassce comments