Education Minister signs partnership agreement to strengthen education 

Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister of Education, signed an $80 million agreement. This partnership is with the System Change Architecture for Learning Excellence (SCALE) consortium. The goal is to strengthen education in Ghana.

This new funding follows previous grants totaling $38.8 million. In total, $118.8 million will support the Ghana Accountability for Learning Outcomes Project (GALOP).

Mr. Iddrisu stated that this is a great opportunity for Ghana. He emphasized the importance of shared vision and innovative financing for education.

He noted that Ghana should celebrate GALOP's impact, and SCALE extends this effort. SCALE aims to reform education delivery and improve access to quality education.

The Minister highlighted the need for environments where children can thrive. This includes using evidence-based approaches and focusing on children's needs.

SCALE’s funding will also enhance the Communities of Excellence program in many districts. This program empowers local communities in cocoa-growing areas to influence education decisions.

In Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, about 1.56 million children work on cocoa farms. Prioritizing education in these areas benefits children long-term, according to Mr. Iddrisu.

Research by the International Cocoa Initiative shows that better schools reduce child labor rates in cocoa regions. Communities with more schools have lower child labor rates overall.

The SCALE funding will establish a Ghana Education Evidence and Data Lab (GEEDLab). This lab will help inform government policies on education planning.

Simon Sommer, Co-CEO of Jacobs Foundation, mentioned that SCALE offers expertise from various organizations. This collaboration transforms how evidence is used in education.

SCALE builds on successful international models like Côte d’Ivoire's Child Learning and Education Facility (CLEF). The World Bank has recognized CLEF's effectiveness.

Sommer expects 2 million children in Ghana to benefit from this initiative across 100 cocoa districts.

Tom Hall, CEO of UBS Optimus Foundation, stressed collective action's importance for maximum impact. He noted that coordination enhances efficiency and avoids duplication among partners.

Andrea Studer, CEO of Fondation Botnar, emphasized supporting young people's holistic development through education systems. She highlighted the importance of social and emotional learning alongside academics.

The partnership includes three philanthropies and over ten cocoa companies working with Global Partnership for Education (GPE). Together they bring $80 million to improve foundational learning in Ghana’s education system.

This investment aims to enhance basic literacy and numeracy skills while promoting emotional well-being among children across Ghana.

The event was hosted by Simone Giger, Swiss Ambassador to Ghana, Benin, and Togo in Accra. Representatives from various foundations and cocoa companies attended as well.

The new $40 million funding is the largest raised globally for educational initiatives by private partners. The Global Partnership for Education doubled this amount through its Multiplier Fund to reach a total of $80 million for Ghana’s education system.

With additional grants included, a total investment of $118.8 million will focus on inclusivity and safety in schools while improving teacher training and children's well-being.

This evidence-based approach brings international expertise to support improvements at all levels within Ghana’s education system.