The US government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has signed a cooperation agreement with UNICEF to improve learning outcomes and equitable and inclusive education in Ghana with a focus on early grade reading.
This is expected to be achieved over the next four years.
[contextly_sidebar id=”600yUR5T9g9dQk99UrnuCVJmIoHh2d7d”]”USAID is excited to join in partnership with UNICEF, Ministry of Education and Ghana Education Service to bolster basic education priorities of improving reading, good management and accountability,” said Jim Beaver the USAID Mission Director in Ghana.
“Ghana’s early grade learners will have greater opportunities to build their foundational reading skills, which are directly linked to success later in life. Establishing these strong building blocks in reading will help Ghana’s children learn to read so that they can read to learn.”
With an added contribution of US$ 14.5 million, USAID’s support will expand much of UNICEF’s work with the Ministry of Education through Ghana Education Service to contribute to improving learning of children in kindergarten, including vulnerable and/or at risk populations such as out of school children, girls and children with learning difficulties.
According to the Ghana Education Service, (GES) the quality of education in Ghana has declined, with only 16 per cent of grade six students proficient in mathematics for example and only 35 per cent proficient in English, according to the 2011 National Education Assessment.
Girls from northern Ghana also average only four years of education, three years less than the national average. And 20 per cent of children with physical disabilities are not attending school, according to the 2010 national census.
“While geographic and social–economic disparities remain a major concern for us,” said Susan Namondo Ngongi the UNICEF representative in Ghana.
“Access is no longer highlighted as the only challenge in the sector. The provision of quality education; where enhanced teaching and learning outcomes, the trademark of an efficient education system, is increasingly becoming the priority of many stakeholders. We are entering a new era in the education sector here in Ghana.”
Over the next four years, innovative solutions, a cornerstone of this partnership, will be developed and scaled up.
The Mobile School Report Card System for example, an android based solution developed locally with the aim of generating reliable up-to-date data on key education indicators for better planning and decision making is being piloted in three selected regions.
Classroom level libraries with local stories for children aimed at improving access to reading materials for children from disadvantaged backgrounds are being developed and scaled up also.
The development of a set of inclusive education prototype materials geared towards improving learning outcomes for children in an inclusive child friendly environment is also planned.
“Ghana has made steady rapid commendable progress in the education sector over the past few years,” said Mr. Charles Aheto-Tsegah the Ag. Director-General, Ghana Education Service.
“We look forward to our continued collective investments in the education sector and working towards equitable and inclusive quality education and lifelong learning for all Ghanaian children over the coming years.”
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Source: GES