Embracing the Unknown
Dear Lead For Ghana Community,
Welcome to this edition of Briefings From Lead For Ghana brought to you by Mastercard Foundation. Here’s what to expect:
Exploring the Magic Behind Kids Loving School.
At Lead For Ghana, we believe that student motivation plays a vital role in enhancing educational outcomes and overcoming challenges within the education system. Gaining insight into what drives students to attend school each day can help shape effective policies and interventions. On this backdrop we are embarking on a research to identify key motivational factors and inspire practical solutions to promote consistent attendance and a genuine love for learning.
We invite you to participate in a brief, single-question poll to support our research. Your input is valuable, and participation is open to everyone—not just students.
Fellow Spotlight: Salam Taiwo - Creativity & Determination
A Journey into Education
Salam Taiwo’s passion for education led her to pursue a?Bachelor of Education at the University of Cape Coast, where she majored in?French?and minored in?English. Her academic journey prepared her for a career in teaching and it was her desire to make a tangible impact that drew her to?Lead For Ghana.
Discovering Lead For Ghana
Salam’s introduction to Lead For Ghana came unexpectedly. During her final year at university, she stumbled upon an?Instagram post?about the fellowship. Intrigued by the mission to bridge educational inequality, she started the application process but never completed it.
However, the vision of Lead For Ghana stayed with her. While completing her?National Service, she remembered the organization and felt a renewed determination to join. This time, she?fully committed to the application process?and secured a spot in the fellowship.
A New Reality in Fumbisi
Relocating to?Fumbisi in the Upper East Region?was a significant challenge for Salam. Having never been to the North before, she was initially apprehensive. Friends and colleagues warned her about the?harsh climate, remote location, and cultural differences.
“When I saw my posting, I wasn’t happy. My friends laughed, wondering how I would survive in a place I knew nothing about,” she recalls.
However, Salam’s?love for new experiences?pushed her to embrace the challenge. Despite initial struggles, she found warmth in the?community’s hospitality?and quickly developed a deep appreciation for the region’s?rich culture and traditions.
Overcoming Teaching Challenges
Stepping into the classroom, Salam faced another challenge—a different caliber of students.?Unlike her previous teaching experiences, her new students struggled with basic comprehension and engagement.
“The first time I taught, it didn’t go well. Something I could explain in two minutes elsewhere took?days or even weeks?for my students to understand.”
Determined to?unlock their potential, Salam experimented with different teaching methods.
Transforming Learning: Innovative Strategies
Recognizing the?importance of peer support, she implemented a?group learning system?where stronger students helped those struggling. She also encouraged students to?use their local language?to explain difficult concepts to their peers, making learning more accessible. Understanding that a?traditional classroom setting?could feel restrictive, Salam took lessons?outside the classroom, sometimes teaching under trees to create a more relaxed environment. Her methods paid off. When she first assessed her students, many scored?between 0 and 2.5 out of 5. Today, even the lowest-performing students achieve?scores of 3 and 5 out of 10, while the highest reach?8 out of 10—a remarkable improvement.
Building a Lasting Impact: The ICT Lab Project
Beyond the classroom, Salam and her team are working on a?capstone project?to establish an?ICT lab?in their school. With digital skills becoming essential, they proposed converting an?unused dining hall?into a fully equipped computer lab. While awaiting approval, they are exploring alternative solutions, including acquiring?digital learning resources?to ensure students gain exposure to technology.
Advice for Future Fellows
For incoming fellows, Salam emphasizes the importance of?patience, creativity, and adaptability.
“Discipline isn’t about punishment; it’s about?understanding what motivates students. Sometimes, you need to take away what they like and replace it with something they don’t enjoy to reset their focus.”
Final Reflections
Salam describes her?Lead For Ghana?journey as?transformational. What started as a daunting challenge has become a deeply fulfilling experience, reinforcing her belief in?the power of education to change lives.
Alumni Spotlight: Nana Yaa Achiaa - Passion & Service
Discovering Lead For Ghana
Nana Yaa’s introduction to Lead For Ghana came through a friend who recognized her passion for mentorship. Initially hesitant because of her non-teaching background, she decided to take a leap of faith—and it paid off. Reflecting on her experience, Nana Yaa describes the fellowship as a “growth journey,” one that not only allowed her to inspire change but also helped her discover her own strengths.
Challenges and Triumphs in the Fellowship
The fellowship experience brought Nana Yaa to unfamiliar places and situations. From the first year of adjusting to new environments to the second year of striving for excellence, the journey was demanding but rewarding.
“In as much as we try to inspire change, we also discover ourselves. You can’t pour from an empty cup, so you grow as you help others grow.”
One of her most memorable moments was mentoring a student named Rabiatu Zakaria at Rawdatul Atfal JHS in Savelugu. Rabiatu, initially discouraged from pursuing education by societal and familial pressures, is now studying IT and web development in tertiary education. Nana Yaa considers this transformation her greatest highlight, a testament to the power of persistence and belief.
Beyond the Fellowship
The skills and confidence Nana Yaa gained during her fellowship paved the way for her next role as an animator and workshop trainer with VIS Ghana. There, she led sustainable projects and teacher development initiatives in partnership with ENI Ghana for communities in the Western Region. Her ability to train and coordinate was rooted in the professional growth she experienced during her time with Lead For Ghana.
Future Aspirations
Nana Yaa aspires to become a cybersecurity analyst and return home to inspire the next generation of young girls to pursue IT and cybersecurity careers. She envisions creating a startup focused on mentorship and skill-building for young women, helping them break barriers and embrace opportunities in technology.
Words of Wisdom
To current and incoming fellows, Nana Yaa offers this advice:
“Embrace the power of a positive mindset. Believe in yourself and your ability to create change. Stay resilient, as the journey of change is challenging but ultimately beautiful.”
Her story is a powerful reminder that growth, both personal and professional, often comes from stepping outside our comfort zones and embracing the unknown.
Education News In Africa
Ghana: Addressing challenges in the education sector requires strong partnerships
The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has underscored the need for collaboration to address the systemic barriers that hinder access to quality education for marginalised groups in Ghana.The minister
made the call while speaking in a media interview. According to him, it would be important to roll out measures aimed at improving the quality of education and accessibility much easier, particularly for girls, children, and persons with disabilities. (Source: Ghana Web )
Google Pushes for Global AI Policy Influence Through Education, Training
Google has announced its proactive efforts to shape global artificial intelligence (AI) policies by focusing on education and workforce training to help regulators refine their approach to the rapidly evolving technology. Alphabet’s President of Global Affairs, Kent Walker, explained the company’s strategy, highlighting the importance of making AI tools accessible to a broader audience, including governments, businesses, and individuals. (Source: News Central Africa )
Africa: Global Education Must Integrate AI, Centred On Humanity
The UN chief stressed that AI and other tech innovations can significantly aid students and teachers by providing wider access to information and advanced learning tools."But the tremendous rewards are matched by some daunting risks. As AI-driven systems become more powerful, human intention and machine-driven impacts can easily misalign." This year, the UN education and culture agency, UNESCO, is dedicating the Day to the opportunities and challenges of AI. Director-General Audrey Azoulay called for more investment in training both teachers and students so it can be used responsibly. ( Source: All Africa )
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