Teachers build capacities in child-friendly learning approaches
About 450 teachers from the three regions in the north have benefited from a training programme aimed at building their capacities to use child-centred play-based approach in teaching.
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The project aims to improve the educational attainment and participation of girls and boys, aged two to 15 in eight countries through a child-friendly approach to learning with play. It will also train teachers, coaches, district-level education officials and parent-teacher associations in the use of child-friendly learning approaches.
The project, being implemented by Right to Play, an international humanitarian organisation, and funded by Global Affairs Canada under the Canadian Government, is to enhance the educational system in the three regions in the north, namely Northern, Upper East and Upper West.
Teaching and learning materials
The beneficiary teachers under the project have also been provided with teaching and learning materials which have helped increase students enrolment, as well as reduced teacher absenteeism in the beneficiary schools.
It has also supported the beneficiary district directorates of education with printers, laptops and other teaching and learning materials.
This came to light at a teachers’ network forum organised by Right to Play in Tamale for 250 teachers who have benefited from the capacity-building programme from the Kumbungu and Tolon districts and the Savelugu-Nanton Municipality, to share their experiences and the benefits of the project.
According to the beneficiaries, the programme had helped to ease the work of teachers, reduced teenage pregnancy, and increased the retention rate among students.
Positive initiative
Speaking at the forum, a teacher from the Nawarideen Basic School, Ms Jamila Alhassan, said the initiative had enhanced their level of preparation of lesson notes, and also provided them the chance to engage in sporting activities to make the lessons more lively and participatory, since teachers do not need to talk much but use actions.
She said the programme had helped improve the academic performance of the girl child and improved learning, reading and writing skills of the schoolchildren, which is helping to bridge the gap between the educational system in the north and the south.
“There is the need for the Ghana Education Service (GES) to collaborate with Right to Play to enhance the capacity of teachers to adapt to the programme to enhance the educational system in the country,” she said.
Enrolment
The Northern Regional Director of Education, Alhaji Mohammed Haroon Cambodia, who represented Alhaji Askia Prince, the Regional Training Officer of the GES, commended Right to Play for helping to increase school enrolment, as well reducing the teacher absenteeism.
He said the GES would continue to collaborate with the private sector to enhance the educational systems and gave an assurance of rigorous monitoring plans to ensure the sustainability of the project to help the younger generation.
The leader of Right to Play Northern Region Office, Mr Habib Kipo, emphasised the commitment of the organisation to help address barriers to education to improve the lives of children and the youth in general.
He said the forum was held to enable the teachers to share experiences and knowledge on the best way of inculcating the play-based approach in teaching, to strengthen educational systems and attain positive learning practices and outcomes across communities.
