Ghana’s education sector continues to attract financial assistance from development partners despite the withdrawal of support from USAID. The latest support comes from UNICEF Ghana, in partnership with the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), and an additional World Bank commitment to the Ghana Accountability for Learning Outcomes Project (GALOP).
The Ministry of Education and UNICEF Ghana have announced the approval of a three-year Systems Capacity Grant (SCG) worth $2.23 million from GPE. The grant, set to run from January 2025 to December 2027, will focus on strengthening policy planning, enhancing education system resilience, and improving gender-responsive programming.
UNICEF Ghana, as the designated grant agent, will collaborate with the Ministry of Education to strengthen gender-responsive education policies at national and district levels; update the Education Sector Medium-Term Development Plan to align with emerging priorities; enhance crisis-sensitive and resilient education sector planning; support the development of education sector performance reports and data-driven decision-making.
Speaking on the grant’s significance, UNICEF Ghana Representative, Osama Makkawi noted that, “this GPE grant will be instrumental in strengthening key areas of Ghana’s education system, including data utilization, gender-responsive programming, and inter-sectoral coordination. This will enable us to deliver quality education for every child.”
World Bank Expands GALOP with $117 Million Grant
It will be recalled that the World Bank in January announced the approval of an additional $117 million to expand the Ghana Accountability for Learning Outcomes Project (GALOP), bringing total program funding to $335 million.
GALOP is aimed at improving foundational literacy and numeracy, enhancing accountability in schools, and boosting learning outcomes. The new funding will allow GALOP to extend to all public primary schools in Ghana.
World Bank Country Director for Ghana, Robert Taliercio, clarified that the funding is a grant, not a loan, ensuring no additional debt burden on the country.
National Education Forum: A Call for Sustainable Reforms
The financial commitments from the country’s development partners come at a time when stakeholders in Ghana’s education sector are engaged in critical discussions about the sector’s future.
At the National Education Forum in Ho in the Volta region, policymakers, educationists, and civil society groups examined challenges such as funding gaps, teacher shortages, and curriculum implementation bottlenecks.
Ghana’s education system has seen significant reforms and investments in recent years, with notable progress in access, policy implementation, and donor support. In spite of the successes chalked , challenges remain in quality, infrastructure, and funding sustainability.
The Free Senior High School (FSHS) Policy launched in 2017, increased enrollment in secondary education but also faced infrastructure constraints, overcrowding, and financial sustainability concerns.
Technical and Vocational Education (TVET) has seen some prioritisation with initiatives like free TVET education and infrastructure expansion, aiming to align education with job market needs.
