By Buertey Francis BORYOR
The World Bank has approved an additional US$117.13 million to expand the Ghana Accountability for Learning Outcomes Project (GALOP) to all non-performing kindergarten (KG) and primary schools across the country. This brings the total funding for GALOP, which started in June 2020, to US$218.7 million.
Mr. Robert Taliercio O’Brien, the World Bank Country Director for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, announced this during a visit to Saint Thomas Presby KG/Primary School in the Korle Klottey Municipality, a beneficiary of GALOP- with 430 learners. The school is one of nine beneficiary schools of the project in the municipality.
He underscored the importance of the funding in strengthening the country’s economy and improving education. Additionally, he encouraged the students, saying: “You are the citizens and workers of the future. Education is critical for economic development.”
The World Bank Country Director was joined by the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, and officials from the Ghana Education Service (GES). Mr. Iddrisu, in an address also reaffirmed government’s commitment to Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE).
Additionally, he announced the scaling up of the National Standardize Test (NST) intervention under GALOP to cover learners at various levels of basic education.
“I am happy to note that as part of the GALOP intervention, the government will roll out comprehensively the national standardised test in the 2025/2026 academic year. As teachers, you are assured that you will be given requisite training and capacity building for the initiative,” he said.
The Korle Klottey Municipal Director of Education, Mr. Philip Aidoo, in welcome remarks also highlighted GALOP’s impact in his municipality. He described the visit as proof of the collaboration between the Ministry of Education (GES) and the World Bank to improve learning outcomes.
“GALOP has helped train teachers, improve the use of teaching materials, and address challenges in literacy and numeracy,” he noted.
He acknowledged the socioeconomic challenges of the Osu community, where the school is located, and commended teachers and students for their resilience. Furthermore, Mr. Aidoo expressed gratitude to the World Bank for funding GALOP and called for continued support to ensure that every child receives quality education.
Mrs. Hannah Danso Apaw, the Head teacher at the Presby Boys Primary School, also called for the training of all basic schoolteachers on differential learning approach to ensure that the reassigning or transfer of teachers from beneficiary schools did not hinder the learning progress of pupils.
Since 2021, GALOP has funded the NST for all primary 4 learners, enabling school managers to monitor results and measure proficiency level of learners in English and Mathematics at the school, municipal, regional and national levels.
The World Bank Country Director also visited the Father Campbell SVD Centre in New Gbawe, within the Weija Gbawe Municipality, to assess the progress of project implementation under the Ghana Accountability for Learning Outcomes Project (GALOP) Component 2.4: Ghana Education Outcomes Fund (EOF).
The Centre, a refuge for marginalised children, currently supports 300 boys and girls- all former street children from urban communities in Accra and Kumasi.
Founder of the facility, Father Campbell, interacting with Mr. O’Brien stated that beyond providing shelter and education, the Centre also serves as an advocacy platform for children’s rights. He noted plans to expand support and strengthen strategic partnerships to enhance its impact.
The Ghana Education Outcomes Fund engages service providers and social impact investors to implement interventions aimed at improving the literacy and numeracy skills of out-of-school children (OOSC), with the ultimate goal of transitioning them into mainstream education.
