The World Bank has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ghana’s education sector through sustained investment aimed at strengthening human capital development and improving learning outcomes.
Mr. Paschal Donohoe, Managing Director and Chief Knowledge Officer of the World Bank Group, said the Bank would continue to partner Ghana to enhance the quality of basic education and ensure that more children acquire strong foundational skills.
He described the Ghana Accountability for Learning Outcomes Project (GALOP) as one of the World Bank’s most impactful education programmes globally, noting that it was designed to improve foundational learning and strengthen teaching quality in basic schools.
The visits formed part of his official tour of Ghana to assess ongoing education interventions and deepen collaboration with government.
Focus on basic education: Osu Manhean Basic School
At the Osu Manhean Basic School, Mr. Donohoe inspected the implementation of GALOP and interacted with school authorities on the impact of the programme.
The GALOP programme is a $174 million initiative implemented between 2019 and 2025 with funding support from the World Bank Group and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. It targets more than 10,000 low-performing basic schools across the country.
The project provides training for teachers, offers school grants for teaching and learning materials, and strengthens accountability systems within schools to improve literacy and numeracy outcomes for more than 2.9 million pupils nationwide.
Mr. Donohoe emphasised that sustained investment in education remained critical for Ghana’s long-term development.
“Investing in education is essential to securing the future of Ghana and its children,” he said, adding that strong educational systems were key to building a skilled workforce and supporting economic growth.
He commended the government, the Ministry of Education and teachers across the country for their efforts to improve learning outcomes and expand access to quality education.
The Head Teacher, Mr. Joshua Nortey, expressed gratitude for the GALOP initiative, noting that although the school was yet to be fully enrolled, it had benefited from training and support programmes.
He said enrolment had increased from about 250 to 425 pupils, while academic performance remained consistently high, with BECE results between 95 and 100 percent over the past five years.
Strengthening transition and skills: Forces Senior High Technical School
At the Forces Senior High Technical School, Mr. Donohoe outlined the World Bank’s forward-looking strategy to extend support beyond basic education.
He stressed that the next phase of the partnership would focus on ensuring continuity in investment as students progress into secondary and higher education.
“What is so important about the next phase of our partnership is how we ensure that as the youngest pupils receive the teaching, support and development they need, we continue with them on their journey as they move into secondary school and higher education,” he said.
He explained that sustained support would create opportunities for personal and educational growth, equipping students with skills needed for future employment and enabling them to contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s economy.
Mr. Donohoe also highlighted the importance of technical and vocational education, noting that combining theoretical learning with practical training through laboratories and equipment was essential for transforming knowledge into real-life skills.
He commended the emphasis on innovative teaching methods, stressing that effective learning must be enduring, adaptive and relevant to changing educational needs.
Government welcomes expanded support
Ghana’s Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, expressed appreciation to the World Bank for its continued support, particularly through GALOP.
He said government was prioritising investment in basic education to strengthen foundational learning and bring more out-of-school children back into classrooms.
The Minister further disclosed that the World Bank was expected to provide about $300 million under the Secondary Education Transformation for Results Project to support skills development and job creation.
