The Minister for Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, has called for stronger attention to foundational learning in Ghana, emphasizing that expanding access to education must also lead to better literacy, numeracy and overall learning outcomes.
Speaking at the Ghana and Regional Foundation Learning, Evidence and Implementation Support Day in Accra, the Education Minister said education policies, programmes and investments should be based on reliable evidence and approaches that deliver measurable results for learners.
GALOP Identifies Low-Performing Schools for Support
Hon. Haruna Iddrisu pointed to the Ghana Accountability for Learning Outcomes Project (GALOP) as an example of how evidence can help improve education planning and resource allocation.
Through the project, 10,579 low-performing basic schools were identified for targeted support, allowing education authorities to direct resources to schools and learners that need them most.
The Minister also highlighted government efforts to equip students with digital and technical skills needed for the modern economy. These initiatives include teaching areas such as coding, robotics, electronics and artificial intelligence (AI).
World Bank Calls for Improved Learning Outcomes
Robert Taliercio O’Brien of the World Bank stressed that foundational skills are essential to Ghana’s employment and economic development agenda.
He noted that simply increasing school enrolment is not enough, arguing that greater access to education must be accompanied by significant improvements in learning outcomes and basic skills.
Representing the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Terri Sarch also emphasized the importance of foundational literacy and numeracy, describing these skills as a crucial gateway to further education, skills development and future employment opportunities.
Partnerships Key to Education Reform
Karen Shormeh Tei of the Jacobs Foundation and Skills Funders highlighted the importance of partnerships in strengthening Ghana’s education sector.
She also pointed to the Ghana Education Evidence and Data Lab as an important platform for supporting evidence-based education policy, helping policymakers use research and data to improve teaching and learning outcomes.
Ghana Education Sector Focuses on Learning Outcomes
The discussions reinforce the growing focus on quality education in Ghana, foundational literacy and numeracy, digital skills development and evidence-based education reforms.
As Ghana works to prepare young people for future employment, stakeholders say improving foundational learning will remain critical to building a skilled workforce and achieving better educational outcomes.
Source: newsthemegh.com