Improving Educational Outcomes for Child Labourers in Ghana: A Review of Literature and Recommendations
In 2022, we were commissioned by Lead for Ghana to conduct a critical literature review on child labour and schooling in the Bono-Ahafo and Western regions. We found that there are a number of factors that contribute to child labour in cocoa-growing communities, including poverty, lack of access to education, and the demand for child labour from cocoa farmers.
The review made a number of recommendations on how LFG could improve educational outcomes for child labourers. These recommendations included:
- Providing financial assistance to help children attend school
- Improving the quality of education in cocoa-growing communities
- Raising awareness of the importance of education among parents and community members
- Working with cocoa farmers to reduce demand for child labour
LFG is currently implementing a number of programs based on the recommendations of the literature review. These programs include providing financial assistance to children to attend school, building new schools and classrooms in cocoa-growing communities, and training teachers on how to teach children who have been involved in child labour.
Reviewing Ghana’s Senior Secondary Education Curriculum: A Collaborative Effort
In 2023, T-TEL contracted us to review Ghana’s senior secondary education curriculum. The team was composed of researchers from the Global North and South.
The review was conducted over a period of three months and involved a variety of activities, including:
- Analysing the existing curriculum
- Consulting with stakeholders such as teachers, students, and parents
- Benchmarking Ghana’s curriculum against other countries
- Identifying areas for improvement
Evaluating MINISTRY OF EDUCATION’S COMMUNITIES OF EXCELLENCE PROGRAM
In 2022-2023, the Jacobs Foundation contracted us to evaluate the Ministry of Education’s Communities of Excellence (COE) Program in Akuapem South, Bosome-Freho, and Lambussie districts. The COE Program is a community-led initiative that aims to improve the quality of education. Our evaluation found that the COE Program has been successful in a number of ways. It has helped to improve the quality of teaching and learning, strengthened relationships between schools, communities, and inter-sectoral collaboration.
Our evaluation also identified a number of areas where the COE Program could be improved. These areas included:
- Improving the monitoring and evaluation of the program in schools
- Improving inclusive education training among teachers
- Providing more emotional support to learners
EVALUATING UNICEF’S COMMUNITY-LED EDUCATION PROGRAM (ONGOING)
In 2023, The Jacobs Foundation contracted us to evaluate UNICEF’s Communities of Excellence (COE) Program in Afram Plains North and Builsa North districts.