The_Open_Door_deel1

-387-
The 1978 National Education Survey
In April 1978 a National Education Survey was launched by the
Ministry of Education. The main purpose was to provide an up-todate
abstract of educational statistical information, as it was
officially recognized that there was a serious lack of basic and
reliable educational statistics and that even the data that were
available were found to be incomplete and relatively inconsistent
(70).
The survey covered 1,441 schools which represented a coverage of
98$ of the elementary and secondary schools of the country (71).
This may lead us to the conclusion that the actual total number
of elementary and secondary schools in the country was 1,470.
However, the National Education Survey Report is not clear (i) in
explaining how this number (1,470) was found, and (ii) why these
29 schools were not covered by the survey. The survey was further
characterized by the fact that it was limited to elementary and
secondary schools and that vocational/technical and teachers'
training institutions, and the commercial/business schools were
not included. Though inconsistencies and contradictions still do
exist there seems to be no justification not to accept the
general results of the survey.
The survey showed that with respect to education considerable
differences between regions or counties, as well as between
sexes, existed. Table 58-A and 58-B show the 1978 school
attending population by county and by sex and the 1978 school
attending population as a percentage of the school age
population - also by county and by sex. It should be noted,
however, that the importance of figures presented in this
respect is very much dependent on the definition of "School Age
Population" . The 1962 Census had defined "School Age
Population" as including all persons 5 years and over. The 1974
Population and Housing Census, already, had defined the School
Age Population as the population between 5 and 24 years (both
inclusive). The 1978 School Survey reduced the group to the
population between 6 and 18 years.
Calculations based on the 1974 Population and Housing Census
results indicated that out of a total population of 1,692,745 the
number of people in the school age (the 6-18 year age group)
was 740,714, or 43.8 per cent (374,032 male and 366,682 female)
(72). Out of every 100 children in the school age 32 went to a
school in 1978, according to the 1978 National Education Survey.
The other 68 children in 1978 lacked any form of modern
education. The survey also indicated that the enrolment
situation in the three south-eastern counties (Sinoe County,
Grand Gedeh County, and Maryland County) was the most favourable
with 5 out of every 10 boys, and 3 out of every 10 girls in the
school age population enrolled in 1978. Bong County, however,
showed the lowest figures with only 1 out of every L boys and 1
out of every 10 girls in the school age attending classes in
1978. The situation in Grand Cape Mount County was only slightly
more favourable.