The YAFO Institute has called on Parliament to adopt a more decentralised and inclusive approach to scholarship distribution by involving head teachers in the identification of underprivileged but academically gifted students across Ghana.

The appeal follows YAFO’s commendation of the Ghana Scholarships Authority Bill, 2025, currently under review by the Joint Committee on Education, Public Administration, and State Interests and Civil Society Organisations.

While describing the Bill as a “critical step” toward ensuring transparency, fairness, and regional equity in scholarship allocation, the policy think tank believes more can be done to bridge the gap between national policy and the students who need support most.

In a statement issued on July 28, YAFO proposed that head teachers from both public and private basic schools be formally empowered to nominate brilliant but needy students for scholarships.

“Head teachers are uniquely placed to understand the challenges and potential of students, especially in rural and underserved areas where access to information is limited,” the Institute stated.

YAFO also recommended the creation of district-level verification committees made up of head teachers and education officers, as well as capacity-building programmes for school leaders and incentive schemes for participating schools. It further suggested that the scheme be aligned with STEM and vocational training pathways.

Additionally, the Institute proposed including a representative of basic school leadership on the governing board of the Ghana Scholarships Authority, to better reflect grassroots realities in policy decisions.

YAFO argued that this bottom-up model would curb corruption, reduce bureaucracy, and eliminate political interference—long-standing issues that have plagued Ghana’s scholarship system—by replacing them with a merit-based and inclusive process.

As the Bill advances through Parliament, YAFO expressed its readiness to collaborate with the government, Ministry of Education, and other stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of a transparent and impactful scholarship scheme.

“This is an opportunity to empower Ghanaian dreams and eliminate educational barriers for generations to come,” the statement added.