Stakeholders review national plan on education
The Ministry of Education is developing a 15-year national education strategy to enhance access to quality education in the country.
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The plan is expected to culminate in a 2016-2030 national action plan to ensure quality educational outcomes at all levels of the educational system
It is also expected to address current issues affecting education delivery in order to make quality education accessible, affordable and available to all at all levels by 2030.
2016 review meeting
In furtherance of that, the ministry yesterday met stakeholders at the 2016 edition of the National Educational Sector Review Meeting in Accra to review a draft framework developed by the ministry.
The two-day meeting is on the theme: “Sustaining the gains in equitable access and quality education and enhancing learning outcomes for all”.
It has brought together educational experts from the government sector, non-governmental organisations, development partners, among others.
The action plan is expected to facilitate the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal Four (SDG 4) which requires all United Nations member states to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote life-long learning opportunities for all by 2030.
The 236-page draft document addresses issues of teacher enrolment, education financing, monitoring and evaluation, teacher development and the decentralisation of the education sector.
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Other issues include the challenges facing the sector over the years, proposed solutions in the context of national statute, achievements over the years and how to improve on those achievements, as well as an overview of the sector in the 2014/2015 academic year.
Inclusiveness
Opening the meeting, the sector Minister, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, said the stakeholder engagement was an opportunity to make the action plan an all-inclusive one to enhance its implementation.
Her contention was that if all stakeholders were involved in the development process, they would identify with the outcome and get involved in its implementation.
While recounting the achievements and challenges of the sector, she reiterated the government’s commitment to ensure that all children of school age had access to affordable and quality education devoid of any barriers, including gender and geographical location.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said the plan was guided by the government’s desire to create an inclusive education system, reflecting its determination to achieve lasting benefits which could only be derived through improved efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability.
“The plan has a built-in flexibility that allows it to respond to the changing priorities and conditions and make it possible for the plan to be updated following annual sector reviews and appraisals,” she said.
Commendation
On behalf of all the development partners, the lead partner and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Chief of Education, Ms Aarti Saihjee, commended Ghana for tailoring the goal of the national education plan in the context of the SDGs.
She acknowledged that even though Ghana had made strides in the sector, there was more room for improvement and called on all stakeholders to put their hands on deck towards the achievement of the goals of the 2016-2030 national action plan.
She called for an increment in accountability in the educational value chain and enhancement of public-private partnerships to improve educational access and quality.
“We the development partners remain committed to collaborating with the government in the implementation of all educational policies and the action plan to enhance educational delivery in Ghana,” she said.
Writer’s email Doreen.andoh@graphic.com.gh