Abstract:
ABSTRACT
Basic schools in Ghana continue to contend with inadequate educational
resources. This demands that the scarce educational resources available are
deployed efficiently and effectively. This study, therefore, sought to develop an
educational resource deprivation index, by simulating the Alkire-Foster Method
for Multi-dimensional Poverty Index (MPI) termed the Multidimensional
Educational Resource Deprivation Index (MERDI) to measure the extent of
resource deprivation in Basic Schools in Ghana. It additionally evaluated the
performance and importance of the indicators of the MERDI. Finally, the study
examined the effect of the indicators of the MERDI on quality and access to
education. The MERDI was developed using data from the Annual School
Census (ASC Data) (2015/16 to 2018/19) to appreciate the trend in the
distribution of education resources. Also, the Importance-Performance Map
Analysis was carried out using the 2018/19 Education Census Data, while panel
data analysis was used to estimate the effect of the variables of the MERDI on
quality and access to Basic Education using the ASC data and BECE pass rate
(2015/16 to 2018/19). The study revealed that the extent of educational resource
deprivation has improved from 45.1% in 2015/16 to 35.4% in 2018/19 with
higher regional disparities. The incidence has also improved from 83.6% to
77.9% while the intensity of the deprivation in Ghanaian basic schools changed
from 49.6% to 46.7% with the northern sector of the country, especially the
Brong Ahafo Region recording the highest levels of deprivation. Most public
basic schools are more deprived as compared to private basic schools. Again,
Textbooks (SFR6), Library books (SFR4), Teacher-Pupil Ratio (HR3), and
Teacher Quality (HR2) depict higher performance and priority in influencing
the MERDI. Moreover, the extent of educational resource deprivation affects
the quality and access to basic education. The study recommends the adoption
of the MERDI as a guiding index in the distribution of educational resources in
Ghana.
