Opening New Worlds: Promoting Reading Opportunities in Ghanaian Schools
Reading is one of the most critical skills a child needs to succeed in life. It opens up new worlds, broadens horizons, and enriches lives. Unfortunately, many children in Ghana face challenges when it comes to reading. These challenges are often due to inadequate access to reading materials, lack of interest, and poor reading skills. This is where the Reading Is Basic II Year 2 project comes in.
The project, which is spearheaded by the Street Children Empowerment Foundation (SCEF), aims to promote reading and create reading opportunities in schools to reduce school dropouts, increase academic performance, and make schools safer for children using child safeguarding actively.
The project also seeks to assist beneficiary schools in setting up libraries, organize general training for all learners in beneficiary schools, and allow learners to borrow donated books during and after school hours to increase the opportunities for learners to read.
To ensure the project’s success, SCEF held a Stakeholder Consultation Forum on the 11th of April 2023 in Accra Metro and Ga South. The forum brought together eight headteachers, three Ghana Education Service senior staff, two Parent Association Heads from the Ayalolo cluster of schools, the president of Rotary Club of Accra – Airport – C. C. Bruce, 15 headteachers, three Ghana Education Service Senior Staff, two Parent Association Heads from the Ga South Schools, and one representative from the Municipal Education Desk.
The participants were divided into groups to discuss their roles and responsibilities in the implementation of the project. They were encouraged to ask questions and share their opinions on how best to achieve the project objectives.
The stakeholders pledged their unfailing support for the project implementation in their schools. The action plans developed would guide the implementation of the project in each school. The workshop provided an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss potential challenges and ways to overcome them, promoting collaboration and partnerships among stakeholders.
The success of the project is not just in the implementation but also in the feedback from the stakeholders involved. Headteachers and Parent Association Representatives from the Ayalolo cluster of schools in Accra Metro and Ga South had this to say about the project:
“Our children need access to reading materials to help them develop their reading skills, therefore “The Reading Is Basic II project will help our school tremendously. The project’s focus on child safeguarding is also a great addition, ensuring that our children are safe while reading. I look forward to seeing the implementation of this project in our school.
Eva Selasi Kumassah, Headteacher, Ayalolo Basic School, Accra Metro:
“I am excited about the Reading Is Basic II project. This will help our children to read more and acquire more knowledge. The training for all learners in beneficiary schools is also a great addition, ensuring that our children do not only read but also understand the importance of reading. This project will indeed make a difference in our schools.
Amishadai Aboagye, Parent Association Representative, Ga-South
“The success of the Reading Is Basic II project relies on the support of stakeholders. With the Stakeholder Consultation Forum, the SCEF has taken the first step in ensuring that the project is successful. The partnerships and collaborations established would promote the success of the project, and stakeholders left the workshop with a sense of ownership and commitment to the project’s success.
We believe that with the support of stakeholders, the project will have a positive impact on the lives of children in Ghana, giving them access to reading materials, increasing their reading skills, and ultimately setting them on the path to success.
