Project Design Workshop with Key Stakeholders in Northern Ghana on Parental Involvement in Schooling

As part of the Parental Learning for Uninterrupted Schooling (PLUS) Project being implemented in the Northern Region of Ghana, COL supported a two-day project design workshop from 31st March to 1st April, 2021 in Tamale, Ghana. The workshop was aimed at soliciting inputs and generating ideas from key stakeholders on innovative strategies and measures to support the effectiveness of the project. It was also part of the strategies to involve, collaborate and engage with the relevant stakeholders for the effective implementation of the project and to promote its sustainability and ownership among the stakeholders.

The PLUS project aimed at promoting parental engagement and involvement in their children learning for improved academic achievement and lifelong learning, will be implemented over a 3-year period across 40 marginalised communities in two districts (Nanton and Kumbungu) in the Northern Region of Ghana benefiting an estimated total of 3600 parents and 7,316 learners (4459 boys and 2856 girls) in Upper Primary and Junior High School level.

The workshop brought together a total of 42 participants drawn from the Ghana Education Service (GES), the Non-Formal Education Division (NFED), Community leaders, parents, teachers, NGOs and CSOs leaders.

As part of the workshop, participants bemoaned the current situation of poor learning outcomes in the target communities/schools, key challenges and opportunities, parents’ capacity needs, parent-teacher collaborations, project quality control measures. They also proposed ideas and suggestions on how parents, especially non-literate parents can be supported to effectively engage in the learning activities of their children. Participants also made commitments to support and collaborate actively with School for Life, the project implementing partner in Ghana, to ensure the project success.

The Programme Director for School for Life Madam Wedad Sayibu in her opening address underscored the need for parental involvement in the daily learning activities of their wards. She also highlighted the role of parents in the Education Value-chain and the need for innovative strategies that will place parents at the centre of the educational learning journey of their wards.

The Northern regional head of Inspectorate of the Ghana Education Service Mr Iddrisu Lawrence described the intervention as “strategic and holistic approach to enhancing children retention and completion in school”. He also highlighted the role of parents in education describing them as key constituents to promoting uninterrupted learning of children in school. He said, “The project could not have come to the region at a better time. The two districts selected for the implementation of the project have recorded poor academic performance in recent years. We in GES believe that parents have a critical role to play if children academic performance is to improve.”

COL’s Education Specialist: Teacher Education, Dr. Betty Ogange, said “Parents are critical in realising effective home-based learning not only during regular schooling, but also during school closures. This project aims to address the communication and other skills required to build and sustain partnerships between teachers and parents, for the benefit of the learner.”