Speaking to the ADM after a children's forum organized by the Children's Right International in Accra yesterday, she said the government is being realistic to absorb the fees of only basic public schools through the capitation grant.

She said pupils in the public schools are mainly from poor homes, and as a result of their situation parents find it difficult to send their children to school. "The capitation grant would give them the opportunity to catch up with their peers in the urban centres," she said.

It would be recalled that some weeks back the opposition National Democratic Congress called on the NPP Administration to allow private schools to enjoy the capitation grant. The party contended that the 1992 constitution provides that every child should have access to free education, and therefore it would not be fair to leave them out.

However, Mrs Adu-Gyamfi said if the grant is extended to private schools its purpose would be defeated. She said the aim of the grant is to bridge the gap between the under privileged and the privileged, so there is no need to let both groups enjoy it now. She said the Administration's focus should be to sustain the grant, so that "when it gains its grounds we can think of bringing the private schools on board."

She said: "Going to a private school, which is more expensive is a choice. I strongly believe that if private schools are allowed to enjoy the capitation grant, we would rather widen the gap between the haves and the have-nots."

She said it is only when those in the deprived areas get "total access to education" that we can close the gap between the haves and have-nots. She said though it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that every child is educated yet it must make sure that "the poor and marginalized in particular benefit from this free education."

Mrs Adu-Gyamfi said enrolment at the public schools is bound to go up with the capitation grant now in place. She called on the Administration to resource the public schools with textbooks and quality teachers to serve its purpose. "This is the only means we can ensure equity in the education system," she said.

The acting Executive Director of Children's Right International (CRI), Mr Bright Appiah said the capitation grant is laudable and would help in bringing down the illiteracy rate in the country. He described the capitation grant as an indication of the Administration's commitment to the realization of the Free Compulsory and Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) programme, the Millennium Development Goal and the NEPAD policy on education.

Mr Appiah appealed to the Administration to sustain the grant because it would go all the way to bring out potentials who would not have had the chance to go to school.

He said the CRI organizes the forum annually to enable children to participate in discussion on national issues and interact with public officials. He called on the children drawn from both public and private schools to know their rights and be responsible.

Togbe Kwaku Ayim who represented Torgbi Afede XIV of Agbogbomefia said society has failed to address issues affecting children. He said the alarming rate of juvenile delinquency attest to that fact.

Ms Cecilia Nadia of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs said the administration is doing everything possible to ensure that children have access to conducive environment to grow up as responsible people.