Speaking at the event, the traditional ruler told the Vice President that since she was physically present in Kumasi, it was the right moment to highlight problems he believes are facing schools outside the country's major cities. According to him, classrooms in rural areas are overcrowded, making it difficult for teachers to give pupils the attention they need.
He also described the school curriculum as outdated and, in his view, not suited to current realities. He claimed this affects the quality of education children in rural communities receive, putting them at a disadvantage compared to their peers in urban areas.
The Okyenhene further claimed that teachers posted to rural schools are not paid well. He suggested that poor remuneration affects motivation and could be contributing to broader problems in the education sector, including teacher shortages in rural areas.
It is worth noting that these are the Okyenhene's personal claims and observations, made publicly to the Vice President, and have not been independently verified.
If accurate, the concerns raised point to a long-standing gap between education in Ghana's cities and its rural communities. Overcrowded classrooms and an outdated curriculum, as described by the Okyenhene, could affect learning outcomes for pupils who lack access to the same resources as students in urban schools.
His claim about teacher pay also touches on a recurring concern in Ghana's education discourse — that inadequate compensation makes it difficult to attract and retain teachers in rural postings.
Coming from a respected traditional leader and delivered directly to the Vice President, the remarks add public pressure on government to examine rural education conditions and consider them in future policy decisions.