$219m for education improvement in low-performing basic schools – Prez. Akufo-Addo

• Posted on June 23, 2020June 23, 2020
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

-In 10,000 low-performing basic schools – President

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has launched the Ghana Accountability and Learning Outcomes Project (GALOP), an initiative aimed at improving the quality of education in low-performing basic schools in the country.

The project is targeted at the 10,000 least-performing basic schools (kindergarten, primary and junior high schools) across the country as well as all special schools with direct interventions.
Under GALOP, government will invest some $219 million in a comprehensive set of interventions that address constraints from teaching to learning in our schools.
At the official launch of the project at the Jubilee House yesterday, President Akufo-Addo indicated that in spite of the numerous interventions made by his government to improve educational outcomes at all levels in the country, especially at the basic level,  over the last three-and-half years, a lot more work needs to be done.
He reiterated that societies that have made rapid progress in the world have made education a central feature of their development.
“Education is the equaliser of opportunity and it is the most effective way to change the fortunes of our country and thereby help us join the group of developed nations.”
He noted the prior to his assumption of office, he made no secret of his intention to put education at the heart of his vision for the growth and transformation of the country
In line with this, he said government has implemented significant reforms to improve access, quality of education, infrastructure, teacher training and professionalisation, and curriculum development, among many others.
“Education at the basic part of the junior level, i.e. from kindergarten to junior high school, forms the building blocks of any education system. If the foundation is weak, the toil is in vain. It is vital that our children receive the best of quality education if they are to progress to higher levels and ultimately acquire the skills and training that are essential to building our country.”
He noted further that over the last three-and-half years, government has done a significant amount of work to boost education at the primary school level.
 The President recounted that in September 2017, his government introduced a new curriculum from kindergarten to primary school that reflects the realities of the country’s aspirations and also increased capitation grant by 120 per cent, from GH?4.50 per child to GH?10 per child.
“We continue to invest in infrastructure and the supply of teaching and learning materials for our children.”
The President emphasised that a well-trained, confident and content teacher is the key to the delivery of quality education. As a result, his government took immediate steps to restore teacher training allowances, which was abolished by the previous administration.
“In additional to the yearly average increase of salaries by 10 per cent over the last three years, government has, for the first time in our history, paid a professional allowance to teachers. We have cleared the arrears and promotions due teachers have also been effected.”
Recounting other developments in the education sector, the President noted further that at the start of the 2018 /2019 academic year, all colleges of education were upgraded to university colleges, a Bachelor of Education degree has been introduced at these university colleges of education.
“This means that soon, a first degree will be the least minimum requirement for teaching at any level of the education system. Further, in September 2018, government rolled out the teacher licensure programme, aimed at improving professional standards, in line with best practices across the globe.”
It is expected that GALOP will support the Ministry of Education’s Education Strategic Plan (ESP 2018-2030), which has quality, access, equity, sustainability and relevance as its key priority areas, in order to provide equitable access to quality basic education to all Ghanaian children.

By Daniel NONOR, Jubilee House