KOICA-World Vision’s Unlock Literacy Programme improves reading abilities among rural pupils

Accra, Dec. 04, GNA – About 8,535 pupils in the Afram Plains South District have benefited from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), World Vision Ghana (WVG) Unlock Literacy programme which aims to enhance the desire of children to read.

The Unlock Literacy project is an innovative, evidence-based approach that aims to improve teaching methods for classroom reading and to engage students, families and communities in reading activities outside schools.

After the completion of the project which commenced in March 2019, 53 per cent of children (boys & girls) across 80 communities in the Afram Plains South can now read with comprehension by grade three completion.

At the Project Endline Dissemination meeting, Mr Richard Okai, Integrated Programmes Director at WVG, in a speech read on behalf of the Country Director, Mr. Dickens Thunde, expressed his elation with the outcome of the project and thanked KOICA for their support.

“It is worth noting that both KOICA and World Vision have implemented several interventions in Ghana in the past. These interventions include the provision of school infrastructure and the provision of school supplies to adult literacy groups and WASH programmes.

“On behalf of WVG, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to KOICA for supporting WVG with 1.5m USD to implement this three-year reading project,” he said.

He noted that a 2015 Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA) report which revealed that only 2 per cent of Primary 2 children could read with comprehension, had repercussions for the nation’s development and also for sustainable development and growth.

“Indeed, there are many challenges affecting education in Ghana and in the Afram Plains South, in particular; but the children’s ability to learn, even the little that is taught in these challenging circumstances, is paramount. If children cannot read and write, they cannot learn and process information necessary for making informed choices,” he indicated.

Ms. Jeongyi Choi, Deputy Country Director at KOICA Ghana, in her remarks said they recognised the educational challenges in partner countries and had set comprehensive targets to cover quality and inclusive education initiatives which mainstreamed gender equality

“KOICA’s global strategic vision is to have an inclusive development through quality education and ensure rights to education for all by strengthening education systems in partner countries while encouraging the participation of diverse stakeholders.

“The importance of literacy for individuals, communities and countries and the need for stronger synergies towards more literate societies can never be undervalued,” she noted.

WVG’s unlock literacy project recently won the UNESCO Prize for Education for Sustainable development back in November.

GNA