Ashanti
BACKGROUND
Ashanti Region is the second most populous Region in Ghana with an estimated population of over 3.5 million (2010 census). The Region shares boundaries with part of Brong-Ahafo to the West North, and Western to the South West (Awaso District) and to the South by Central Region (Dunkwa District and to the East by Eastern Region. It has a heterogeneous population of ethnic groups with Asante Twi dominating as the major language for business. It currently has thirty (30) political administrative Districts comprising of one (1) Metropolitan Assembly, Seven (7) Municipal Assemblies and twenty-two (22) District Assemblies.
LITERACY RATE
The Region’s literacy rate of 41.5% is among the highest in the country. Nevertheless literacy is much concentrated in the Metropolitan city of Kumasi and other major urban towns. Most of the people reside in the rural communities where illiteracy is endemic and for that matter calls for vibrant literacy programmes. Illiteracy is much greater not only at the rural communities but also among its women populace and children who have dropped out of school.
STATUS OF LITERACY CLASSES
To help reduce the illiteracy rate in the region, Non-Formal Education, Ashanti since 1992 has been organizing pro-active programmes and establishment of literacy classes to deal with the problem.
Currently the region runs 3 different literacy programmes. These are Batch 19 local language classes, English Batch 4 and English Batch 5 classes. Altogether 349 classes are running with learner population of 4807 comprising 1584 male learners and 3223 female learners.
Both Batch 19 and English 4 are facilitated by NFED staff while English 5 is being manned by National Service Personnel. Adult Literacy classes are accessible in all 30 district offices of the region.
THE ROLE OF COMMUNITIES
Community members are the major stakeholders in the literacy delivery process. Community participation is elicited during community entry process. Community participation transcends from giving their concern for the literacy classes through the selection of community facilitators to handle the literacy classes, to undertake class supervision and acting as class advisory committees that handle class conflicts and frictions erupting from class interactive processes. The communities are also expected to provide meeting avenues and adequate classroom facilities like furniture, chalkboard, and lighting.
Again the communities are well rooted in our community Income Generating Activities (IGA) and other development activities like keeping the environment clean and green.
REGION PARTNER
Adult literacy delivery needs collaboration effort of all other social groups since literacy is at the heart of any development effort. To this extent groups like NCCE, GES, District Assemblies are our major collaborators with the World Vision International for its literacy in Water and Sanitation project, (1992 -2005) that culminated into the commencement of literacy in Basic English project. Other collaborative partners in this direction had been Action Aid and Rural Enterprises Project (REP).
Currently in 2014 the region partnered with Kuapa Kooko Limited in 9 communities, 7 in Western Region and 2 in Ashanti to assist Kuapa Kooko society clients to acquire Adult Functional Literacy to enable them take the role of secretaries and recorders among others in their society and thus expand their scope of cocoa production.
In 2015 Non-Formal Education Division, Ashanti has entered into collaboration with Mandelex to establish a number of literacy classes in Amansie West District in six (6) communities.
STATUS OF IGA
As part of measures in sustaining and supporting the literacy programmes, NFED embarked on profitable Income Generating Project with their learners. Most of the projects embark on mainly livestock production, non-traditional, Bee Keeping, grap making, and batik tye and dye making, pig production in Offinso, Honey in Obuasi, Rabbit rearing in Agona, Goat rearing in Akomadan, Soup making in Afigya Kwabre.
These IGA groups are trained in their respective ventures and supported to access credit to expend their production.
USE OF SUPPORT SYSTEM
Learning support systems such as radio and book boxes are being used by classes to complement facilitation and learning. One of such FM Stations in the region is at Mampong called Mighty FM.
Non-Formal Education Division in the region partners and collaborates with this radio station to produce and broadcast programmes for learners and target communities, these platform has been used in most cases to explain government policies and programmes to the people.
INNVATION AND THE WAY FORWARD
Projects: most districts have embarked on projects to sustain their activities. Some of the projects include bee keeping, animal husbandry cocoa nurseries etc.
Staff Facilitators: Staffs of the Division from Programme Officers to Programme Assistant Officers are now tasked to open and facilitate classes within their communities.
DISTRICTS
The region has about Thirty (30) districts which are having NFED activities taking place.
| NO. | DISTRICT | NO. | DISTRICT | |
| 1 | ADNASI NORTH | 16 | BOSOME FREHO | |
| 2 | ADANSI SOUTH | 17 | EJISU-JUABEN | |
| 3 | AFIGYA KWABRE | 18 | EJURA-SEKYEDUMASE | |
| 4 | AHAFO ANO NORTH | 19 | KUMASI METROPOLIS | |
| 5 | AHAFO ANO SOUTH | 20 | KWABRE EAST | |
| 6 | AMANSIE CENTRAL | 21 | MAMPONG | |
| 7 | AMANSIE WEST | 22 | OBUASI | |
| 8 | ATWIMA KWANWOMA | 23 | OFFINSO MUNICIPAL | |
| 9 | ASANTE AKIM NORTH | 24 | OFFINSO NORTH | |
| 10 | ASANTE AKIM SOUTH | 25 | SEKYERE EAST | |
| 11 | ASANTE AKIM CENTRAL | 26 | SEKYERE SOUTH | |
| 12 | ASOKORE MAMPONG | 27 | SEKYERE KUMAWU | |
| 13 | BEKWAI | 28 | SEKYERE AFRAM PLAINS | |
| 14 | BOSOMTWE | 29 | ATWIMA NWABIAGYA | |
| 15 | ADNASI NORTH | 30 | ATWIMA MPONUA |