By: Kingsley Attitsogbui| Ho
An International non-profit organization, Plan International Ghana, has supported the Volta Regional Education Directorate with 13,360 pieces of core subjects’ textbooks and 3,370 pieces of school bags to improve teaching and learning among pupils.
They include Mathematics, English language, Integrated Science, Social Studies and Information Communication & Technology (ICT) books ranging from Basic one to Basic eight (Class1-JHS2).
The learning materials will benefit a total of 23 Basic schools which are not benefiting from the Ghana Accountability for Learning Outcomes Project (GALOP) in the five operational districts of Plan International Ghana. They include, Jasikan and Guan districts in the Oti Region, Hohoe, Afadzato and South Tongu districts in the Volta Region.
The project is targeted to benefit 14, 234 school children in the above five districts.
At a short ceremony in Ho on October 12, 2023 to handover the learning materials, the Southern Programme Influencing and Impact Area Manager, of Plan International Ghana, Mr. Sulemana Hor Gbana, underscored the need to support quality and inclusive education in their operational areas.
He said, “central to education, we are in partnership with the government, the community members as well as other non-state organisations to improve quality inclusive education wherever we want”.
He said their support is always based on their engagement and interactions with the communities on their development plans in the Education Sector.
Volta Regional Director of Education, Mr. Francis Yaw Agbemadi, who received the items on behalf of the beneficiary districts, said it is an undeniable fact that though education is free, the government alone cannot fully meet the educational needs of the country.
“Let us remember that education is the cornerstone of progress and the path to a brighter future” he said.
This he said underscores the importance of the support and partnership of various stakeholders to making significant impacts on the development and progress of quality education in the region.
According to the Director, children will be able to learn well when they have textbooks for effective teaching and learning.
The Country Director of Plan International Ghana, Mr. Solomon Tsefamariam, indicated that Plan International Ghana is also implementing two grant projects in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene and Child protection in the Jasikan Municipality.
These projects he said aimed at improving Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in schools and communities and also tackle root causes of child abuse to enable children especially girls stay and learn in protective environment.
“In our Fiscal Year 2023, the Southern Programme Influencing and Impact Area, invested a total
of Two Million, Seven Hundred and Twenty-Eight Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHS2,728,000) of its yearly budget in inclusive quality education” he said.
He said the organisation will continue to invest in quality and inclusive education.
Plan International Ghana has been working in the Volta and Oti regions since 2008.
The ceremony was attended by District Education Directors, Teachers, Educationists and students.