Traders at the Anyaa Yam Market have expressed concern over the rising cost of education, making it increasingly difficult to enroll their children in basic schools.

A yam trader, Auntie Safia, in an engagement with happyghana.com, explained that despite the government’s emphasis on education as a key sector, it has become a significant challenge for many parents to provide even basic-level education for their children.

She highlighted that beyond school fees, parents are now required to purchase textbooks, which quickly become obsolete due to frequent changes in the curriculum. “In the past, basic school children could reuse textbooks. Now, after spending 1,000 Ghana cedis on books for just one child, parents must prepare to buy new ones for the next child,” she said.

She added that this financial burden has discouraged many from enrolling their children in school, as they are already struggling to meet essential living expenses. “We desire to give them that education, but we can no longer afford it,” she lamented.