Primary Education in Ghana

Following the implementation of the FLC project by the PAAJAF Education Institute (PEI) February 2016 to today, all the students benefiting from FLC support have been surveyed periodically, using a list of performance indicators established by the PAAJAF management committee to assess the progress and impact of PAAJAF activities in achieving their overall objectives. Through that process and through the experiences of the project leaders and educators, we report the following comments:

• "Before coming here, I didn't know all the alphabets. Now, I can read all the alphabets. When I see the sign boards I can fully understand where I want to go".

              -- Peter, Student

• "Now I can read and spell by name".

              -- Adu, participant in the adult literacy class

• "My students are learning the English language, Mathematics, Creativity, Religions and Moral principles. Now my students can write from 1 – 100, spell and write their names, and are able to identify the English alphabet and write it. They are also able to recite two to six letter words and are able to do basic reading. We are thankful to the team at GEF for their keen support and this PEI Family Learning (Centre) project".

                  -- Mrs., Rose, Kindergarten II Teacher

• "With PEI being a scholarship school, it has to face challenges of obtaining and maintaining a constant source of funding which is a huge disadvantage over public educational facilities. Because of these funding challenges, there is a pressure on the rented facility and infrastructure, especially the Kindergarten classroom and the crèche, to do more with less. There is also a lack of various teaching aids and equipment".

                   --         Mrs., Jocelyn, nursery I Teacher (and Ms. Rose concurred) on the challenges the FLC must         overcome and why YOUR support is so vital.

Other Observations

We report the following additional observations and accomplishments for this first year of the FLC:

• For the initial pre-school enrollment, 120 children – or 200% of the target goal – matriculated in the first year of the program.

• For the initial adult literacy program, 14 adults – or 140% of the target goal – matriculated in the first year of the program.

• The your support helped ensure that 30 students received full scholarships and 90 others received partial scholarships in year one of the program.

• Fifteen (15) students from the original pre-school population out of 120 will graduate to primary level ceteris paribus -- (ages 7-12).

• Scheduling highlights – The teaching staff confirms:

• For pre-school and primary school, classes were held five times a week, Monday through Friday

• For the adult literacy classes, classes were held 3 times a week; Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Wish List for the Completion of Phase One and Going Forward

While teachers, students, parents and leaders of the FLC are proud of the progress made after the first year of Phase one, we also recognize challenges that lie ahead. We will need additional funding to move the program forward which includes addressing the following needs:

• As the classrooms for the Phase one were rented, the FLC needs to purchase permanent facilities which would help sustain the project for the remaining phases.

• We need funds to purchase tables and chairs to avoid a delay in the start of Phase two.

• The FLC needs funds to purchase of own land for the school.

• We need funds to purchase a school bus.

• There is an acute lack of funds to employ sufficient staff such as teachers, cleaners and kitchen staff.

• Additional support is required to pay for educational supplies and continue the daily nutrition program.

• We recommend staff conduct a supply inventory check at the end of each economic year to ensure adequate supply of school materials for the following academic year or implement plans to purchase what is missing. For example, the FLC had an insufficient supply of stationery for the recently completed academic year.