Accra: Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Education, has signed a US$80 million partnership agreement with the System Change Architecture for Learning Excellence (SCALE) consortium to strengthen education in Ghana. This new funding follows additional grants worth US$38.8 million, bringing the total supplementary financing to US$118.8 million for the Ministry of Education's flagship Ghana Accountability for Learning Outcomes Project (GALOP).
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Iddrisu expressed that the agreement presents an opportunity for Ghana to capitalize on a shared vision and partnership, as well as innovative financing for education, emphasizing the timeliness of this initiative. He highlighted that Ghana has ample reason to celebrate the impact of GALOP, with SCALE serving as an extension of its successes. SCALE's goal is to reform the education structure and delivery, offering a model for improving access to quality education through evidence-based and child-focused approaches.
The SCALE funding will support school improvements and the Communities of Excellence program, which operates across many districts in Ghana, particularly in cocoa-growing regions. This initiative aims to empower local communities in decision-making within their education systems. The Minister noted that by prioritizing education in these districts, children benefit significantly in the long term, as evidenced by reduced child labor rates in communities with better education infrastructures.
Analysis by the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) indicates that areas with improved education have lower child labor rates, especially in cocoa-growing regions. The SCALE funding will also establish the Ghana Education Evidence and Data Lab (GEEDLab) within the Ministry of Education, aiding in informed policymaking and planning.
Mr Simon Sommer, Co-Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Jacobs Foundation, mentioned that the SCALE partnership offers a wealth of expertise from various organizations, transforming how evidence is applied to education. SCALE will build on successful international models, including the Child Learning and Education Facility (CLEF) in C´te d'Ivoire, recognized by the World Bank. In Ghana, approximately two million children are expected to benefit from evidence-based research across 100 cocoa districts.
Mr Tom Hall, CEO of UBS Optimus Foundation, stressed the importance of collective action for maximizing impact, noting that greater coordination enhances efficiency and leverages each partner's strengths. Andrea Studer, CEO of Fondation Botnar, emphasized that education systems should support holistic development beyond academics, focusing on social and emotional learning, resilience, and critical thinking.
The partnership, comprising three philanthropies and over ten cocoa and chocolate companies alongside the Global Partnership for Education, aims to bring US$80 million to Ghana's education system to enhance foundational learning and ensure educational access for every child. The investment will focus on improving literacy and numeracy skills, as well as supporting children's emotional and social wellbeing.
The event, hosted by Simone Giger, Swiss Ambassador to Ghana, Benin, and Togo, featured representatives from the Jacobs Foundation, Fondation Botnar, UBS Optimus Foundation, and ten cocoa and chocolate companies that form the SCALE consortium. The US$40 million funding, the largest raised for education by philanthropic and private partners globally, has been doubled by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) through its Multiplier Fund, resulting in a combined total of US$80 million for education in Ghana.
With an emphasis on evidence-based approaches, the SCALE initiative aims to bolster inclusivity and safety in schools, improve teacher training, and emphasize the emotional and social wellbeing of children, bringing international expertise to enhance Ghana's education system at local, regional, and national levels.
