The document discusses public and low-fee private schooling options for poor families in rural Ghana. It finds that while access to schooling has expanded, gaps remain between the poor and non-poor, as well as rural and urban areas. Food costs make up a large portion of education expenses for poor households, around 16-30% of income for public and private schools respectively. Low-fee private schools are attractive due to reduced costs through capitation fees and perceived better quality, but they are still not affordable for the very poorest families. The policy recommendations include increasing accountability of public schools, providing school meals, and supporting low-fee private schools to further reduce costs for poor households.

1. Public and Low-fee Private Schooling in Rural Ghana: Are the Poor Being Served? Luke A. Akaguri - University of Sussex

3. Food cost constitutes the most significant component of Household expenditure for both school types averaging about 45% and 29% of the costs per child per term for public and private schools respectively. Findings

4. A large proportion of poorest household’s income is spent on education – about 16% and 30% public and private respectively