Private educational institutions have called on the government to extend more support to private schools, arguing that they remain key partners in Ghana’s human resource development.

According to stakeholders, government interventions over the years have largely focused on public schools through infrastructure development, teaching and learning materials, and other educational support, leaving private schools to bear most of their operational costs despite educating a significant number of Ghanaian children.

The appeal was made by Rev. Fr. Richmond K. Nkansah, General Manager of King Arthur International School, during the school’s 30th anniversary celebration.

He said the disparity in government support has persisted for years, even though private schools continue to make significant contributions to the country’s education sector.

Rev. Fr. Nkansah stressed that the perception that private schools exist solely to make profits should not be used as a justification for excluding them from government support programmes.

“Most of the time, when you look at the privileges given to schools, government is always focusing on public institutions and leaving private schools behind.

“But we can all testify to the fact that private schools also contribute significantly to building careers. At the very least, government must support private schools as well, especially in terms of ICT laboratories, school buses, libraries and other facilities,” he said.

He called for stronger collaboration between government and private school operators to address challenges facing the education sector.

“That perception that private schools are individual entities existing solely for profit should not be the case. Private schools pay significant taxes to government, which are used for national development. We also create thousands of job opportunities for Ghanaians. We are partners in education, and we deserve to be supported just like our public counterparts,” Rev. Fr. Nkansah added.

King Arthur International School commemorated its 30th anniversary with a week-long celebration featuring a thanksgiving service, cultural display, awards and recognition ceremony, student performances, exhibitions, and a networking session with parents and alumni.

The Headmaster of the school, Ishmael Afful, described the milestone as a celebration of three decades of commitment to discipline, academic excellence and character formation.

He said the school has grown from humble beginnings into one of Kumasi’s respected private basic schools, producing graduates who continue to excel in various professions across Ghana and beyond.

“Thirty years ago, we set out with a vision to provide quality education that goes beyond the classroom. Today, we celebrate not just our longevity, but the thousands of lives we have touched and the futures we have helped to build,” he said.

Mr. Afful also urged parents and guardians to play a more active role in their children’s education by monitoring both their academic progress and behaviour.

He emphasised that parental responsibility should go beyond paying school fees.

“Parents and guardians should not just pay fees and leave everything to the teachers. There must be regular follow-ups to check how the children are performing academically and how they are behaving in school,” he said.

He further encouraged parents to maintain regular communication with teachers to ensure shared responsibility in shaping the future of their children.

Parents, alumni and other guests commended the school for maintaining high academic standards over the past three decades and encouraged management to continue investing in infrastructure and teacher development.

Management of King Arthur International School said the anniversary was not only an opportunity to celebrate its achievements but also to reaffirm its commitment to providing holistic, quality education for future generations.

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