World Bank delegation expresses satisfaction on GALOP programs
World Bank delegation as part of the drive to have first-hand information on the country’s growth and development in the education sector have visited the Ministry of Education (MOE) and other officials of the Ghana Education Service.
The visit ties into the Ghanaian Accountability for Learning Outcomes Project (GALOP – P165557) of which an amount of US$150M IDA and US$ 64.5M TF was approved on 29th October, 2019 and became effective on 16th April, 2020 to support the Ghana Education Outcomes Project (GEOP).
The primary goal of GALOP is to enhance the quality of education in low performing basic education schools and strengthen the education sector equity and accountability in education space.
The World Bank Global Director for Education, Dr. Jaime Saavedra in an address commended government for the tremendous inputs being made in the educational value chain particularly Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, (STEM) education and skills training and development.
He said the World Bank will continue to invest in the country’s education and have fervently put in place mechanisms and programmes for the youth to have access to education both at the primary and secondary levels, stressing that the youth must have equal opportunity in that regard.
“The World Bank will provide the needed finance and logistics to support schools and applauded government for the reforms in the educational sector and assured to share Ghana experience to other countries around the world”, he said and therefore urged government to continue to engage the World Bank on areas that needed urgent attention for redress.
For his part, the Minister of Educaiton, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum thanked the World Bank delegation for prioritising education saying it enhances the socio-economic growth and development of the country and said the bank have invested massively in the country’s education particularly in the primary and the secondary levels.
According to him teaching and learning in a unique and sound learning environment equips the youth to move successfully to the next level of academia as much emphasis is also placed on girls as part of the effort to bridge the gender gap.
The field visit to GALOP school took the delegation to Mantse Tackie 1 & 2 primary school in Accra to engage authorities on successes and challenges under the GALOP programme.
Madam Belinda Bulley, Headteacher, Mantse Tackie 1 & 2 primary school expressed her gratitude for the World Bank support to the school saying the move have come a long way in the transformation agenda of the school and its positive impact on the skills of the school children.
She however urged the World Bank to organise periodic capacity building and training for teachers to sharpen their skills and again called for more funding and logistical support for the school since enrolment have witnessed a higher increase.
At Accra High Senior High School, the delegation visited the STEM block, and were highly impressed about students’ passion of STEM education and courses such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics and assured that the World Bank will provided the needed resources and logistics to support STEM education across the country.
Source: Ben LARYEA