Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch) has underscored the need to mainstream agriculture into the new bi-focal second-cycle education curriculum to address food insecurity.

According to the policy think-tank, the major challenge to food security in Africa is an underdeveloped agricultural sector due to low technology, low investment and low youth interest and participation.

This is worsened by the devastating effects of climate change on crop yields. As a result, Africa – including Ghana – has become food insecure; hence, inculcating the skills and spirit of agriculture into youths from an early stage will develop their interest and well-equip them for the industry.

“We recognise that agriculture and food security are critical for Africa’s survival, just as much as fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) skills. The new curriculum, which seeks to prepare the youth with relevant contemporary proficiencies and competencies for both tertiary education and the world of work, must mainstream agriculture,” said Kofi Asare, Executive Director.

Eduwatch in a petition to the Ag. Director-General, National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) and Minister of Education emphasised that to address food security in Ghana sustainably, it is imperative that ‘Basic Practical Agriculture’ is mainstreamed into the secondary education curriculum to ensure all students acquire some basic knowledge of agriculture and farming.

Having participated in a stakeholder engagement session organised by NaCCA on the new draft secondary education curriculum scheduled for introduction in the next academic year, the education sector civil society organisation (CSO) is aware of two agricultural subjects’ creation: Agriculture as (an Arts subject) and Agricultural Science as (a Science subject).

However, these two provide flexibility of subscription for students across disciplines. Thus, both subjects are optional – limiting their potential impact on all second-cycle students.

Eduwatch recommends that Basic Practical Agriculture, including farming, be introduced as a compulsory foundation course in the new secondary education curriculum – in addition to Physical Education & Health, which is currently the only foundation course in the new curriculum’s current draft.

“This, we believe, will help to shape students’ perspectives on agricultural career choices, provide basic practical knowledge and skills in agriculture and climate change, and build the necessary culture in support of enhancing Ghana’s food security,” stated Eduwatch.

Source: thebftonline.com

On Thursday July 11, Eduwatch participated in STAR Ghana Foundation’s presentation of a Political Economy Analysis (PEA) on girls education, as part of the implementation of their Mobilizing 4 Girls ‘ Education (M4G) Initiative. The presentation was aimed at soliciting stakeholder inputs to enrich the final PEA report.

The PEA was commissioned to understand how power dynamics and economic, cultural and social forces have influenced and continue to influence girls’ education in Ghana, while providing data-driven recommendations for improving same.

The findings of the analysis reveal among others the lack of a comprehensive and cohesive policy direction and action plan for girls’ education, the delivery of social agendas for marginalized groups only when they become vital constituencies for winning political power, the neo-patrimonial nature of Ghana’s political settlement underpinned by competitive clientelism and, the skewing of discourses around education policy and its failings towards economic metaphors.

The PEA recommends a wider national advocacy on girls’ education to generate interest among constituents and impact the political interests and survival of policy makers to offer change. It also proposes the deployment of an evidence-based approach to dispelling misconceptions about the economic contribution of educating girls which may include a thorough iteration of girls’ contribution to economic sustenance.

The analysis further recommended increased resources for a comprehensive girls’ education policy crafting and implementation, while supporting female legislators through evidence-based approaches to policy considerations on girls’ education.

STAR Ghana Foundation’s M4G initiative aims to tackle barriers to girls’ education using a systems change approach.

Participants at the presentation included representatives from the Girls’ Education Unit of the Ghana Education Service, CAMFED, School for Life and the Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition. Eduwatch was represented by our Research Associate, Sahadatu Ali.

© Africa Education Watch

On Friday, July 12, Eduwatch participated in a wrapup meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)'s most recent mission with the Government of Ghana (GoG). The IMF held this meeting to engage Civil Society on the progress of Ghana's Extended Facility Programme, elicit their impression on the programme in general, and how inputs solicited at the beginning of the Programme have been implemented.

Eduwatch, represented by our Executive Director, Kofi Asare, expressed satisfaction with the increased allocation to the Capitation Grant, considering it being one of the key issues raised during the design of the Fund Programme. Mr. Asare however decried the delayed disbursement of the Grant, which he indicated was more important than the increased allocation, and without which the allocation would not be relevant.

He also raised concerns about the extent to which the IMF is working together with the GoG to review the free Senior High School (SHS) as captured in the IMF's review report of January 2024, indicating the lack of action since the decision. Mr. Asare impressed upon the IMF to place premium on every commitment agreed on with the GoG in the review reports and Programme Memorandum, particularly the review of the free SHS to make it more cost-efficient and rationalise its cost, moreso as the government intends to pass a free SHS Law. According to our Executive Director, any steps taken towards a review will ensure that any legislation on the free SHS takes into account the review recommendations as part of agreements between GoG and the Fund, and prevent any incidence of the proposed law pinning down the free SHS in its current form.

Partners present at the meeting included Oxfam, the Ghana Anticorruption Coalition, the Economic Governance Platform and the Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition.

© Africa Education Watch

On Friday, July 12, Eduwatch honoured an invitation by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to participate in a stakeholder engagement on the implementation of the 2024 budget. The meeting sought to, among others, elicit inputs from Civil Society for consideration in the mid-year budget to be presented by the Government of Ghana (GoG) later in July, while the Ministry provided feedback on the implementation of the 2024 budget thus far.

The Ministry presented evidence of mainstreaming inputs made by Civil Society in September 2023 during engagements leading to the development of the 2024 budget, indicating that majority of inputs had been addressed in the budget. Some of these included the inadequacy of the Capitation Grant amount, which was increased to GHC 84 million, and the need to increase School Feeding allocation which saw the allocation rise from GHC 0.96 pesewas to GHC 1.2 per student.

Eduwatch, represented by our Executive Director, Kofi Asare, submitted that it is important for the Ministry to explore ways of front-loading capital expenditure not only under the GoG, but also under the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), to resolve the issue of delays in disbursement of funds for infrastructure projects. Mr. Asare also raised concerns over the disbursement of Capitation Grant, indicating that though we have gone past half-year, only 45 per cent of the total funds have been released, emphasizing the need for the Ministry to ensure expedited release of the Grant amounts.

© Africa Education Watch