USAID distributes over 4 million books to schools in all districts

• Posted on June 9, 2016
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Ministry of Education have launched the distribution of over four million books in English and local Ghanaian languages to public primary schools in all 216 districts.

The aim is to improve the reading skills of nearly 2.8 million primary school students, enhance education policies and management systems, as well as strengthen parent, school and local government capacity to promote reading.

The books will provide more access to reading materials and enrich the reading environment for kindergarten to primary 3 pupils in all of Ghana. The U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, Robert P. Jackson, and the Minister of Education, Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, delivered remarks to commemorate the official handing over of the books.

“These books will open minds, expand horizons and introduce millions of primary school children across Ghana to new worlds and opportunities,” remarked Ambassador Jackson.

“A literate, educated population drives development and builds nations.  But a 2013 test showed that the vast majority of Ghanaian primary school students are unable to read with fluency. I am happy to report that this is changing. One of the major drivers of this change is the strong partnership between the U.S. government and the Ghana Ministry of Education.”

USAID and the Ministry of Education initiated the Partnership for Education: Learning programme in 2015.

This partnership supports the Government of Ghana to encourage children to develop their reading skills and stimulate parent or guardian interests in early grade reading, both in English and Ghanaian languages.

-The Finder