Care International officials with other stakeholders at the launch at Walewale
The Cooperate for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE), has launched a five-year $60 million cooperate agreement with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to assist the Ministry of Education and its agencies and affiliates in strengthening accountability in primary schools in the country.
The project, expected to be implemented in 17 districts and four regions including Northern, North East, Upper East, and Upper West, is a USAID/Ghana Strengthening Accountability in Ghana’s Education System (SAGES) systems Strengthening Activity supports the Ministry of education’s objectives to strengthen accountability mechanisms in the education sector as outlined in the Education Strategy Plan (ESP) for 2018-2030 (MOE, 2018).
In his keynote address on behalf of the Director General of the Ghana Education Service at the launch of the SAGES activity in Walewale, the North East region, Prince Charles Agyemang-Duah, noted that the future of Ghana lies in the hands of the young learners and that improved accountability will ensure that more girls and boys will be able to access quality education.
He indicated the project will not only achieve shaping the education of the younger generation, but it will also shape the future of the nation.
“By working together, we can create an education system that will not only impact knowledge, but also nurture critical thinking, creativity and the value that will guide our youth to become responsible and accountable to citizens”.
Mr. Duah thanked the USAID for their commitment to investing in the country’s education system noting that the activity will help all agencies under the Ministry of Education that are responsible for supporting the implementation of pre-tertiary education in Ghana such as the National Teaching Council, Ghana Education Service among others, to improve the contact hours of teachers and pupils.
The Deputy Chief of Party at Care International in charge of the SAGES Systems Strengthening Activity, Mohammed Amin Dawuda, explaining the rationale behind the selection of only 17 districts for the implementation of the project, said they intend to role out a proof of concept that will ensure that education management in the districts is improved and they also expect to see measurable improvement in learning outcomes.
“Once we come out with that evidence, then government can then scale-up the activities that we will be implementing to ensure that the entire nation benefits from it”.
He stated that Care International as part of the programme, will also support the ministry of education to strengthen and update their system especially training of Circuit Supervisors to some standards to be able to do their work effectively.
Mr. Paul Napari who represented USAID, responsible for the funding of the project said he is confident that the USAID SAGES Activity will make a significant and lasting impact on the country’s education development trajectory.
He urged all relevant stakeholders in the education sector to work together to turn their collective vision into a reality.
Head of Programmes and Partnership at School for Life, Ayuba Abukari on his part indicated that School for Life will provide the needed technical support as one of the implementing partners to make sure the activity comes to a success.
The project is being funded by USAID, with its implementing partners including Afrikids, Community Development Alliance, CROWN AGENTS, Ghana National Campaign Collation, and School for Life.
The five-year activity implementation spans the period from April 01, 2023, to March 30, 2028.
BY Eric Kombat, Walewale