Microschools
Sinapi Aba Trust (SAT) has since 2009 been working with low-fee private schools in the various communities of Ghana, under its flagship school program “The Microschool Program”. Low-fee private schools (affordable private Schools) constitute a significant proportion of the basic school education in Ghana. These schools are located in various communities serving both the upper and the lower income levels of the economy. A number of studies in some communities in Ghana reveal an almost equal number of private schools to public schools, confirming the importance of the contribution of the private sector in the education of the Ghanaian child. The notion that private schools are serving the needs of a small minority of wealthy parents is misplaced… the lower-cost private schools has emerged to meet the demands of poor households (Watkins, 2000).
It is important to note that, some of the schools are established by social entrepreneurs who had identified the education needs in the communities due to the absence of or inadequate public schools. In spite of the significant role that the private schools are playing in increasing access to education, they are confronted with a number of challenges, prominent among them are lack of access to capital to invest in schools’ developments, services to improve school management, and quality, among others.
Sinapi Aba, with support from some International Organizations and Foundations, developed it’s “Micro School Program” which is currently serving over a one thousand, two hundred (1,200) proprietors whose schools serve more than 250,000 pupils/students in Ghana. A lot of successes have been achieved over the 10-year period. The “Micro school” program seeks the sustainability of the schools, by supporting the school entrepreneurs with trainings to build their capacity and with tailor-made loan products.
Sinapi Aba has special training for school proprietors and other faculties to enhance school management and administration.