This paper presents a qualitative study on the underperformance of rural education in northern Ghana with emphasis on Junior High Schools. The national curriculum from basic to secondary education run by public and private schools under the watch of the Ministry of Education, Ghana entitles students to sit same
national examinations. The national curriculum presents uneven playing field as rural schools that lack quality educational resources are required to compete in same national examinations with colleagues in urban schools who have good educational resources. Pupils’ in northern Ghana rural schools in this study are more disadvantaged because of the lack of educational resources needed for quality education as stipulated by the national education policy that establishes schools.