Accra: Ghana's Complementary Education Agency (CEA) and Nigeria's National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSCE) are poised to sign a memorandum of understanding aimed at addressing the challenges of out-of-school children in both nations.
According to Ghana News Agency, this initiative will facilitate a continuous exchange of knowledge on reintegrating children into the education system.
The announcement follows a visit by the Nigerian government to Ghana from February 2 to 6, including representatives from the Federal Ministry of Education, officials from Kaduna and Kano states, and education programme partners. During this visit, Nigerian officials observed Ghana's Complementary Basic Education (CBE) programme, a nine-month catch-up initiative that equips children aged 8-16 with essential literacy and numeracy skills. Notably, 90% of the programme's graduates successfully transition back to formal schooling, with costs approximating $100 per child, highlighting its cost-effectiveness.
Nigeria, facing a significant challenge with an estimated 18.3 million children out of school according to UNICEF, sees this partnership as a crucial component of its Education Sector Reform Initiative, as announced by Dr. Tunji Aluasa, Nigeria's Federal Minister for Education. The Nigerian delegation also visited schools in Ghana's Northern Region to learn about the coordination between national and local governments and the classroom teaching methods employed.
Key features of the CBE programme include community leadership, an accelerated learning curriculum, small class sizes, child-centred pedagogy, and instruction in local languages. Both countries emphasized the importance of integrating such accelerated learning programmes within government systems to support the transition of out-of-school children into mainstream education, alongside tracking their progress.
During a roundtable event hosted by the British Council, Mr. Daniel Kwesi Ashiamah, Executive Director of Ghana's CEA, underscored the significance of basic education as a fundamental right and not a privilege. He highlighted the Ghanaian government's commitment to financing the programme, which supports 10,000 learners across 12 districts in four regions.
Dr. Sani Idriss, Executive Director of NCAOOSCE, expressed admiration for Ghana's collaborative approach across all government levels. He noted that this unity and community engagement have been instrumental in Ghana's success in addressing out-of-school children challenges, providing valuable lessons for Nigeria to enhance its efforts in this area.
The partnership has been facilitated by the British High Commissions in Accra and Abuja, with support from the British Council and UK-funded education programmes, including PLANE and the What Works Hub for Global Education. Both countries aim to continue working together to adapt successful strategies to their unique contexts, aligning with the UK government's commitment to eliminating barriers to education globally.