Education Minister and World Bank Country Director Visit GALOP Schools

The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, along with the World Bank Country Director, Dr. Robert Taliercio O’Brien, and other officials, recently visited a number of educational facilities as part of a tour to assess the progress of the Ghana Accountability for Learning Outcomes Project (GALOP). The tour included visits to St. Thomas Presby Basic School in Osu and Father Campbell SVD Foundation in Weija, both of which have been part of the project.

GALOP, launched in 2020 and set to conclude this year, is a comprehensive five-year initiative aimed at improving education quality in low-performing basic schools across the country. The project also seeks to enhance accountability and equity within the education sector. The $218.7 million program is a collaborative effort between the World Bank, the Department of International Development (DFID), and the Global Partnership for Education. It targets over 10,000 low-performing basic schools and all 28 special schools in Ghana, benefiting approximately 2.4 million students and 76,000 teachers. In addition, about 1,300 staff from 260 districts across the country are also part of the project.

The goal of GALOP is to address fundamental challenges in Ghana’s education system, such as underperforming schools and a lack of necessary resources. The project has focused on providing teachers with continuous training, coaching, and mentoring to improve their instructional practices. Furthermore, GALOP aims to strengthen school management and leadership while supplying necessary resources and support for schools. The project also includes creating and implementing accountability frameworks to monitor and evaluate educational outcomes, ensuring that improvements are sustainable.

An important aspect of GALOP is its focus on out-of-school children and providing them with alternative pathways for education. The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Ghana TVET Service and other partners, has implemented a $6 million initiative in partnership with the Father Campbell Foundation. This program focuses on offering accelerated learning programs (ALP) to 500 street children aged 15 to 18 who have been unable to access formal education. After completing a nine-month ALP, these learners are placed in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs or apprenticeships, helping them earn a National Proficiency 1 Certificate, which enables them to enter the workforce or continue their education.

During the tour, Minister Iddrisu and Dr. O’Brien engaged with various stakeholders, including teachers, students, and school administrators, to assess the program’s impact. The two leaders visited classrooms, inspected school facilities, and held discussions with local officials and educators to better understand the challenges faced by the schools and the communities they serve. This firsthand engagement provided a deeper insight into the successes and areas for improvement within the GALOP initiative.

Minister Iddrisu took the opportunity to emphasize the government’s ongoing commitment to improving educational outcomes, particularly in underserved areas. He stated that the government is committed to ensuring that every Ghanaian child, regardless of background or location, has access to quality education. He highlighted the importance of teacher training and the upcoming rollout of the national standardized test, which is currently in its trial phase. This test is designed to help prepare students for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). Furthermore, the Minister stressed the importance of focusing on learning outcomes to ensure that investments in education yield positive results.

One of the key points raised by Minister Iddrisu was the challenge Ghana continues to face in fully achieving Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE). Despite over 30 years of efforts, he noted that the country has yet to meet this goal. However, the Minister reassured stakeholders that the government would continue to invest in and support basic education, with the aim of achieving FCUBE in the near future and ensuring that the country’s free secondary education policy continues to grow.

Dr. O’Brien, for his part, expressed his satisfaction with the progress of GALOP, particularly with its emphasis on improving teacher capacity, enhancing school management, and promoting accountability. He praised the initiative’s alignment with the World Bank’s broader objectives of improving education outcomes and reducing poverty. Dr. O’Brien emphasized the importance of collaboration between all stakeholders, including teachers, students, parents, and community members, in achieving the success of the project. He also reaffirmed the World Bank’s commitment to eradicating poverty and improving educational outcomes in Ghana.

In his concluding remarks, Dr. O’Brien encouraged the various parties involved to take ownership of the project and continue working together to ensure its long-term success. He commended the resilience of the students, teachers, and project team, urging them to persist in their efforts to improve education in the country.