Deputy Minister for Education, Rev. Ntim Fordjour, has underscored the critical need to prioritize Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Ghana, highlighting significant strides made by the government to enhance the ECE subsector.
Rev. Ntim Fordjour’s remarks came in response to statements made by the MP for Tamale North, Alhassan Suhuyini, during a parliamentary session, where the latter referenced the Ghana Education Service (GES) Lively Minds Programme as a case study for Early Childhood Education.
Addressing parliament, Rev. Ntim Fordjour emphasized the collaborative efforts between the government and various organizations, including the Ghana Education Service, Lively Minds, Sabre Education, IPA, Right to Play, and UNICEF, in implementing the standard-based curriculum.
He highlighted the incorporation of play-based pedagogies into the curriculum, stressing its effectiveness in engaging learners optimally, as supported by research indicating that children learn best through play.
“We see so many NGOs operating in silos and therefore the kind of harmonized impact we ought to gain in their interventions is not maximized. Taking a cue from that, we have managed to harmonize all of the players within the play-based sector,” Rev. Ntim Fordjour remarked, emphasizing the importance of coordination among stakeholders to maximize the impact of ECE interventions.
Rev. Ntim Fordjour also commended the GES Lively Minds Programme for its innovative approach, which involves engaging 90,000 rural parents in classrooms to support their children’s learning. Additionally, he highlighted the launch of the KG INSET Manual last year, aimed at training 48,000 kindergarten teachers nationwide, as a significant step towards improving ECE standards.
In recognition of the commitment demonstrated by ECE NGOs in Ghana, Rev. Ntim Fordjour reiterated the ministry’s dedication to collaborating with global partners to secure funding and support for further advancements in Early Childhood Education.
The deputy minister’s remarks underscore the government’s commitment to enhancing ECE in Ghana, aiming to provide a solid foundation for the educational development of young learners and combat learning poverty. As efforts continue to improve ECE standards nationwide, stakeholders remain optimistic about the positive impact on Ghana’s educational landscape.