By Solomon Gumah
Walewale (NE/R), Oct 23, GNA – A total of 21,103 learners in the North East Region have transitioned into the mainstream schools under the Ghana Education Outcomes Project (GEOP) as part of efforts to encourage out-of-school children to access formal education.
The learners, who constituted the cohort two of the project, passed the Accelerated Learning Programme (ALP) in literacy and numeracy in their mother tongues, and so, acquired the instructional training as outlined in the Complementary Basic Education (CBE) policy.
Beneficiary districts of the programme in the region included Bunkprugu/Nakpanduri, Yunyoo/Nasuan, Chereponi, East Mamprusi, Mamprugu-Moaduri and West Mamprusi.
Hajia Nana Fatima High, GEOP Coordinator, speaking at a durbar at Walewale to officially transition learners into the mainstream schools, said learners prior to the transitioning, were taken through rigorous baseline and endline assessments.
The durbar to transition the beneficiaries was on the theme: “Getting All Children Educated through Support to Schools and Communities”.
It was organised by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with its implementing partners including Plan International Ghana.
Hajia High said for the past two years, GEOP had implemented two ALP cohorts in literacy and numeracy, which had benefited approximately 38,443 learners.
She commended the Ministry of Education, World Bank, National Council for Curriculum Assessment (NaCCA) and other partners for their commitment to supporting out-of-school learners in the area.
Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, Minister for Education, whose speech was read on his behalf by Nana Baffour Awuah, Director of Pre-Tertiary Education at the Ministry of Education, said the Ministry had earlier transitioned 17,340 learners into mainstream schools in the Savelugu Municipality of Northern Region.
He said the Ministry was implementing the GEOP to give school drop-out and street children a second chance to achieve their dreams.
Mr. Sulemana Gbana Hor, Northern Programme Manager, Plan International Ghana, said the organisation supported in equipping teachers with the tools needed to improve teaching quality and learning outcomes in 239 mainstream schools’ improvement programme in three regions and in 11 districts.
He said: “We have provided targeted training to teachers, to empower them to deliver remedial lessons to underperforming students to facilitate their academic progress.”
Mr. Hor urged all stakeholders in the region to recognise the importance of education by sending their children to school.
Mr. Simon Anaane Amokase, North East Regional Director of Education, said the project had contributed to increase in school enrollment and attendance and helped to improve positive teaching and learning outcomes in the region.
Learners received learning materials such as pens, pencils, erazers, mathematical sets, sports kits among others to support them in school.
GNA