The Value of Social Capital: Exploring How Public Senior High Schools in the Central Region of Ghana Respond to Challenges and Opportunities in the Secondary Education Sector

Although low-to middle income countries have been encouraged to attain the international benchmark of 15-20% public budget allocation to education, Ghanas education budget to GDP has hovered between 4% and 10% over the last decade. As a result, all public secondary schools are constantly compelled to negotiate for their fair share of governmental support to secure infrastructure and teaching and learning materials. However, in this context of constrained resources certain schools seem to be thriving better than most of their counterparts. Drawing on primary research findings, this study problematizes the structural inequalities and competition as a direct consequence of not only the fiscally constrained public sector, but also as the result of deep-seated historical events and political decisions that form part of colonial legacies in Ghana. It draws on the concept of social capital to highlight the crucial role of private networks and relationships (social capital) in mitigating these challenges.