Accra: Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister of Education, has expressed gratitude towards the World Bank and its funding partners for their continued support of the Ghana Accountability for Learning Outcomes Project (GALOP). This initiative aims to enhance the quality of education and learning outcomes in basic education schools, with a focus on equity, accountability, and system strengthening.
According to Ghana News Agency, the World Bank and its partners approved an additional US$117.13 million in January 2025 to extend GALOP to all underperforming kindergarten and primary schools nationwide. This brings the total funding for GALOP to US$218.7 million since its inception in June 2020. The funding partners include the System Change Architecture Learning Excellence and the Global Partnership for Education.
Dr Clement Apaak, the Deputy Minister of Education, conveyed the commendation on behalf of the Education Minister at the first meeting of the Project Oversight Committee for GALOP held in Accra. The Committee, chaired by the Education Minister, is tasked with overseeing the successful implementation of the GALOP Additional Funding, ensuring alignment with the Ministry’s education sector priorities.
Mr Iddrisu highlighted GALOP’s goal to improve literacy and numeracy proficiency in early grades through structured pedagogy, curriculum alignment, and effective assessment methods like the National Standardised Test. The project aims to provide teachers with ongoing professional development, including in-service training, coaching, and digital learning content to enhance instructional delivery and learner engagement.
The initiative prioritizes support for the lowest-performing 10,000 basic schools, many located in rural and economically disadvantaged areas. The Minister, on behalf of the committee, pledged to ensure effective deployment and monitoring of interventions, such as teacher training and performance-based incentives.
Mr Robert Taliercio O’Brien, the World Bank Country Director for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, visited the Saint Thomas Presby KG/Primary School in the Korle Klottey Municipality, a GALOP beneficiary with 430 learners. During his visit, he emphasized the importance of funding in strengthening Ghana’s economy and improving education.
Additionally, Mr O’Brien visited the Father Campbell SVD Centre in New Gbawe to assess progress under GALOP Component 2.4: Ghana Education Outcomes Fund. The Centre supports 300 marginalized children, all former street children from urban communities in Accra and Kumasi.
As part of the GALOP intervention, the government plans to comprehensively roll out the national standardised test in the 2025/2026 academic year.