Breaking Barriers
Dear Lead For Ghana Community,
Welcome to another edition of Briefings From Lead For Ghana. Here is what to expect:
REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT - NORTHERN REGION
Educational Statistics
The Northern Region, a region once almost twice its current size, according to research has the lowest literacy rate in the country. According to UNICEF, the region has the lowest share of children aged 7 to 14 years with foundational reading skills and numeracy skills at 8% and 4% respectively.
The region’s share of children who do not have foundational skills stands at the second highest in reading at 14% and the third highest in numeracy at 13%.
Across all levels of education - primary, lower secondary, and upper secondary, the Northern region has the highest out-of-school rates at 20%, 18%, and 31% respectively.?
Over the last seven (7) years, Lead For Ghana has had the most fellows and partner schools in the region. Since 2017, we have placed over one hundred and ten (110) fellows in twenty-one (21) partner schools across three (3) districts - Tamale, Savelugu, and Sagnarigu. Currently, we have nineteen (19) fellows in six (6) schools.
Impact to Date
Capstone projects are an important component of the two-year fellowship program which allows Fellows to identify, research, pilot, and present a solution to a community or school-wide problem that impacts their students. Below, we highlight a few of the capstone projects that have been undertaken over the years.
Yoo R/C Junior High School - Savelugu District
The Fellows posted to Yoo R/C school in 2017 embarked on a school renovation and student exposure project in an effort to create a conducive learning environment to support students’ academic growth. As part of the project, the Fellows actively raised funds to oversee the installation of windows, doors, and fans for the classrooms. They also replaced blackboards with markerboards and purchased computers and printers to enhance the learning of ICT. The Fellows also applied to the Latitude Global Organization for international teaching volunteers to be sent to the school to support literacy programs carried out in the school.
The 2019 cohort of Fellows built upon the renovation project of their predecessors by raising funds to embark on a school-wide painting project. They worked collaboratively with the alumni of the school in the execution of the project.
Kalpohin Kamaria Junior High School - Sagnarigu District
The 2017 cohort of Fellows placed in Kalpohin Kamaria?JHS identified a poor learning environment and lack of learning resources as the major contributors to low performance. As a team, the Fellows led several initiatives aimed at addressing these problems. They collaborated with the school stakeholders and community members to raise funds for the establishment of a community library that would serve both students in the Kalpohin Kamaria school and other schools in the community. The Fellows liaised with EduSpots, one of the organizations that funded the construction of the library, to establish a literacy club. This provided a structure and learning curriculum to improve students' literacy. The Fellows also renovated the school building by repainting the school and installing fans, windows, doors, and markerboards to create a more conducive learning space.
The 2019 Fellows took over the running of the EduSpots literacy club after their predecessors completed their fellowship. They established a mentorship program for the young girls in the school after noticing the gap in exposure between the girls and the boys in the school due to the prevailing culture that prioritizes boys’ education. As part of the activities of the mentorship club, the Fellows invited resource persons to run sessions with the students on career development and entrepreneurship among others.
Zogbeli M/A JHS Block C - Tamale
As part of efforts to improve the English literacy levels and instil a love of reading in their students, the 2017 Fellows at the Zogbeli M/A JHS Block C embarked on a Library For Action project in the school. To achieve their objective the Fellows focused on forging partnerships with community members and donor organizations. Students, parents, and community members were encouraged to support the project. Through these partnerships, the Fellows were able to purchase computers and acquire reading books for students. The 2019 Fellows improved on the Library For Action Project by partnering with the Ghana Investment Fund For Electronic Communications (GIFEC) to acquire 10 computers and a printer for the school.
FELLOW SPOTLIGHT: THE RISING STARS OF BOWIRI COMMUNITY DAY SENIOR HIGH TECHNICAL SCHOOL
Earlier this month, our fellows in the Bowiri Community Day Senior High Technical School in the Oti Region, coached their students to participate in the 67th Independence Day Regional Quiz and Debate Competition organized by the Ghana Education Service (GES).
The team of three Lead For Ghana Fellows and two students was determined to change the perception of their school among members of the community to a positive one. They went into the competition as the underdogs but emerged victorious at both district and zonal levels, eventually winning second place at the regional level.
Bowiri Community Day Senior High Technical School was represented by Emmanuella Ewe (Form 3, Home Economics) and Godsway Obikyere (Form 3, Technical), who were coached by Lead For Ghana fellows Nathaniel Kwame Lamptey, Shadrack Adonu, and Cosmas Damian Bio Mensah.
领英推荐
Kudos to the team on this remarkable feat, we look forward to more wins!
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: BREAKING BARRIERS - JAPHETH'S MISSION TO TRANSFORM EDUCATION IN GHANA
During one of his first math lessons at the Ayim M/A Basic School, Japheth realized he was seamlessly teaching a topic he had no understanding of when he was in his first year of Junior High School (JHS1). Not only did he not understand most of what he was taught in JHS1, but he also could not communicate with others in English. Standing in front of that class, reminiscing about his personal academic experiences, a passion for change was born.
Going from studying in a government school to private education, Japheth experienced firsthand the stark contrast in the quality of education - a disparity that rendered him a victim of consistent mockery and corporal punishment. But strong-willed and determined to catch up, he stood up to the challenge and successfully passed his BECE examinations with flying colors. From Junior High School to his Political Science studies in the university up until that epiphanic math class, Japheth had not realized he was a victim of educational inequality in Ghana. He joined the Lead For Ghana Fellowship knowing he wanted to help, but it hadn’t dawned on him that he could have used this help when he was in basic school.?
Japheth went from just wanting to help to being intentional about helping shape the educational system in Ghana. During his fellowship, he built relationships with his students and their families to ensure that they understood the importance of education. He developed creative ways to get his students engaged and engrossed in learning. He organized morning classes to accommodate students who came very early and loitered around, as well as evening classes for students who could not come to school early due to chores. He would take up other classes besides his own when colleague teachers couldn't show up. He ensured students were not mocked for their shortcomings, but encouraged them with stories from his own experience. He started the Men’s Corner Club to help male students with their personal hygiene. Ultimately, Japheth and other fellows at the Ayim M/A Basic School raised funds to build an ICT Lab and also start a library.?
Japheth is currently pursuing a master's in Political Science and Economics in Russia. He intends to return to his home country to help bridge the educational inequity gaps. Ahead of his return, he has started putting together plans to spearhead a social enterprise aimed at garnering support from individuals and organizations to improve the infrastructure in schools in underserved communities. He sees this as a way to supplement the work Lead For Ghana is doing.
“Ayim M/A Basic School is fortunate to have Lead For Ghana Fellows to help improve their quality of education as well as their infrastructure. What about similar schools that do not have Lead For Ghana Fellows?”
In the long term, Japheth hopes to pursue a career in academia and politics. Individually, we can only do so much to bridge the gaps in our educational system. He believes a career in politics best puts him in the position to influence and shape policies and be able to effect change at the helm of affairs. He looks forward to holding a position in government, possibly in the education ministry, so that he can be responsible for the policies that affect education in Ghana, especially the basic schools.?
“We need to start solving the problems from the foundation.”
He also wants to become a Political Science lecturer, where he can help change the narrative of politics in these parts.
Japheth dreams of a Ghana where our educational system produces graduates who can adequately survive in this fast-paced world of artificial intelligence.
EDUCATION NEWS IN AFRICA
Ghana: Heighten digital literacy in schools – Educationist urges government
Chief Executive Officer of Leyden Educational Consultancy, Dr. James Owusu, is advocating for institutions and policymakers to incorporate digital literacy into Ghana’s national curriculum. He wants digital skills training to be an integral part of the curriculum to help promote digital literacy and equally encourage students to think outside the box whilst exploring new ways of solving problems. (Source: 3 News)
Africa: UNESCO welcomes AU's decision to promote education in 2024
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Wednesday welcomed the African Union (AU)'s decision to dedicate 2024 to education, given that the continent is home to the largest out-of-school population in the world. (Source: XinhuaNet)
Africa: The Bakhita Partnership for Education (BPE) has launched a new campaign dubbed ‘The 21st Century African Girl’ to mobilize African nations to increase education funding.
The initiative, which was initiated by Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, focuses on five strategic areas, including the 21st Century African Girl Initiative, Tax Exemption for Sanitary Products, and the Appeal for Government Action in Marginalized Areas and Places of Crises. (Source: Capital FM Kenya)
ANNOUNCEMENT
Fellow Recruitment Is In Session
We are still accepting applications for our 2024 Fellowship Program. If you would like to join the movement, or know someone who might be interested, follow the link to apply.
Passion Sprint
With only $20 this month, you can help support the development of toilet facilities at the Bolga Sherigu Community Senior High School in the Upper East Region. We promise it will only take a minute, and this simple act will help contribute towards a conducive learning environment for over 400 students.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT
The work we do is made possible by generous donations and grants from well-wishers and individuals who strongly want to see Ghana and Africa thrive. For us to continue the work we do and expand educational opportunities to all children in Ghana, we are counting on you to support our work by becoming a donor to our cause. Thank you so much and we look forward to you joining our donor community.