Over 3 Million Pupils Learn Under Trees As 10,730 Public Basic Schools Lack Classrooms — Auditor-General

More than 3 million pupils in Ghana’s public basic schools are receiving lessons under trees, in sheds, churches and other temporary structures because their schools have no classroom blocks, the Auditor-General has revealed.

According to the 2025 Auditor-General’s Report, 10,730 public basic schools across 13 regions with a combined enrollment of 3,050,808 pupils do not have classrooms.

The report said teaching and learning in those schools are being conducted in open spaces and makeshift shelters.

The finding was made contrary to Section 36 of the Pre-Tertiary Education Act, 2020 (Act 1049), which mandates the provision of adequate educational infrastructure for effective teaching and learning.

The Auditor-General described the situation as a major setback to quality education delivery and called for urgent intervention.

“We recommended that the Minister for Education and the Director General of Education prioritise the provision of classroom blocks for the affected schools to ensure effective teaching and learning and the delivery of quality education,” the report stated.

The report did not name the 13 regions affected, but noted that the lack of infrastructure is impacting attendance, teacher retention, and learning outcomes in the affected schools.

Education stakeholders have repeatedly raised concerns about infrastructure gaps in basic schools, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

The latest audit figures suggest the deficit remains significant.

The Auditor-General has submitted the report to Parliament for consideration, with a focus on sanctions, recoveries, and measures to address systemic weaknesses in public sector service delivery.

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