Past
FCDO SPONSORS CE POLICY AND LI FOR CEA
The processes to ensure the Complementary Education Agency (CEA) is fully functional are made possible through the support of the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO).
The Complementary Education Agency has received funding from FCDO to build the Complementary Education Policy (CEP), Legislative Instrument (LI) and Resource Mobilization Strategy (RMS). These documents will enhance the position of the Agency within the Complementary Education (CE) ecosystem.
The Complementary Education Policy will regulate and sanitize the CE space. The policy will serve as a guideline to guide decisions and directions and achieve desired outcomes.
Nonetheless, the Complementary Education Agency needs to formulate a strategy for resource mobilization. The organization offers out-of-school programmes at no cost to its targets. It requires a standout strategy to source funds, quality human resources and logistical support to deliver on the mandate.
Additionally, after the passing and assenting into law of the Complementary Education Agency ACT, 2020 (ACT 1055), there is a need for a Legislative Instrument (LI) to enforce the Act. It will strengthen the position of the Agency.
The FCDO has sponsored and provided support through Consultants to assist in preparing the documents.
Invitations have been extended to stakeholders to participate in zonal and national workshops to come around with the three documents.
Complementary Education Agency in collaboration with its partners such as the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office is working to transform the complementary education landscape in Ghana.
- Tuesday 7th to Saturday 11th March, 2023 (Northern Sector)
- Sunday 19th to Thursday 23rd March, 2023 (Southern Sector)
- Monday 27th to Friday 31st March, 2023 (National Level)
The above activities will make March 2023 quite busy for the Agency and her partners’ called to contribute to the realization of the Complementary Education Policy, Legislative Instrument and Resource Mobilization Strategy.
Look out to this space for more development.
HON. DR. YAW OSEI ADUTWUM CALLS FOR UNITY
The Bosomtwe District joined the rest of the country to celebrate the 66th Independence Day with a parade. The celebration was on the theme “Our unity, Our strength, Our purpose”.
In a speech read on behalf of the Member of Parliament for the Bosomtwe Constituency by Mr. Emmanuel Ntim, the Deputy Executive Director, Complementary Education Agency, Hon. Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum called for unity.
Hon. Dr. Adutwum, who is also the Minister of Education noted that socio-economic development can be possible only under the cloud of unity.
Mr. Ntim stressed on the need for the district to stick together to achieve rational outcomes.
The colourful event was well attended by Traditional Authorities, District Heads of Agencies, and Commanders of the various security Agencies.
Teachers and school children were at the parade.
The Bosomtwe District joined the rest of the country to celebrate the 66th Independence Day with a parade. The celebration was on the theme “Our unity, Our strength, Our purpose”.
In a speech read on behalf of the Member of Parliament for the Bosomtwe Constituency by Mr. Emmanuel Ntim, the Deputy Executive Director, Complementary Education Agency, Hon. Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum called for unity.
Hon. Dr. Adutwum, who is also the Minister of Education noted that socio-economic development can be possible only under the cloud of unity.
Mr. Ntim stressed on the need for the district to stick together to achieve rational outcomes.
The colourful event was well attended by Traditional Authorities, District Heads of Agencies, and Commanders of the various security Agencies.
Teachers and school children were at the parade.
STAKEHOLDERS TOLD TO BE AMBASSADORS OF CEA
The continuous support by the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) gave a further boost to the ongoing capacity building of the Complementary Education Agency (CEA) when a five-member expert Technical Assistance team led a two-day workshop. It aimed at strengthening the capacity of the Agency to assume responsibility for implementing Complementary Basic Education (CBE).
The capacity-building process aims to co-orient the CEA staff and their stakeholders on the requirements the mandate places on the organisation. The transition to CEA requires a thorough understanding of the demands on the staff. Hence, the need to stimulate the levers of capacity and the ability to deliver on the mandate.
The workshop brought stakeholders within the complementary education space under one umbrella to develop a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning framework. The programme had some selected Complementary Basic Education Desk Officers from the Ghana Education Service (GES), the School for Life, the World Education Incorporated and the Ministry of Education actively participating.
These stakeholders have partnered with the Agency for years. Teaming up at this time of the Agency’s transitional journey gives the strongest indication of the intention of the stakeholders to stick and stay and be part of the success story of the Agency.
The Ag. Executive Director Mr. Francis Asumadu urged participants to give up their best as they contribute to building the body of knowledge. The crowding in of ideas to consciously create a pool of information will ensure the resolute building of the capability of the Agency. Mr. Asumadu added that the Agency has assumed the responsibility of out-of-school programmes and the management of dropouts in the education sector in Ghana. It will require dedication, commitment, resilience and sacrifice to achieve the target. He indicated that the responsibility charged to the Agency is demanding. It calls for overreaching performance in the spirit of dedication. The Ag. Executive Director was joined at the two-day workshop by the Deputy Executive Directors, Support Services and Operations, Mr. Emmanuel Ntim and Ms. Ameh Gloria Mensah.
Dr. Adom B. Ghartey, the Lead of the Technical Assistance team, moderated the workshop and was assisted by Mr Johnson Boakye Yiadom. The other members are Mr. Justice Agyei-Quartey and Mr. Emmanuel Ofori-Bah. Dr. Ghartey acknowledged the participant’s active contributions throughout the period of the workshop. He expressed his impression of the participation of the stakeholders. Adding, he indicated that the presence of the stakeholders was a valuable add-on.
Additionally, the National Co-ordinator of the Ghana Education Outcome Project (GEOP), Hajia Nana Fatima High, attended and fully participated in the deliberations.
The Ag. Executive Director CEA extended a heartfelt appreciation to all participants. In a solemn request, he urged the stakeholders to assume the status of ambassadors of the Agency. He indicated that the delivery of the mandate of the Agency is attainable through friendship and collaboration with stakeholders
CEA HOLDS VALIDATION WORKSHOP ON CBE PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION CRITERIA AND CEA STRATEGIC PLAN FORMULATION IN KOFORIDUA.
The Complementary Education Agency (CEA) from the 4th-8th of July 2022, organised a workshop at the Capital View Hotel in Koforidua to validate the Complementary Basic Education (CBE) programme implementation criteria, and elicit input from its stakeholders to prepare a draft strategic plan document for the CEA.
In attendance were representatives from the CEA and selected agencies including GES, NaSIA, NTC, TVET service and NaCCA under the Ministry of Education. The rest were representatives from selected CSOs such as Oxfam, World Vision, World Education Int., Afrikids, GILLBT as well as experts from the academia namely the University of Ghana, University of Education, Winneba and Accra College of Education. The Technical Assistant Team from FCDO/ OPM/ HEART, the consultants; supporting the CEA to assume its mandate of providing oversight for the implementation of the CBE programme were also present.
The validation followed an earlier workshop organized from 16th – 19th of May 2022, to elicit the perspectives of the stakeholders on the criteria for the CBE programme implementation. Development of the criteria is part of the processes towards facilitating smooth transition of the CBE program implementation from Ghana Education Service to CEA as the lead agency for the CBE programme in Ghana.
In an opening remarks, the Acting Executive Director of CEA, Mr. Francis Asumadu, commended the participants for making it to the workshop despite the short notice to help CEA validate the draft report on the criteria for the CBE programme implementation.
The first day of the three-day workshop saw participants reviewing and validating the draft report regarding the content, presentation, structure as well as responsiveness of the criteria to the CBE programme implementation requirements.
The report presented perspectives on the number of out-of-school children (OOSC) in Ghana and the factors accounting for that. It also provided the criteria for sitting CBE learning centers / classes, development of curriculum and teaching and learning resources, facilitator’s recruitment and training, as well as C BE learner’s transition into the formal school and other lifelong learning pathways. The report provided several recommendations, including the MoE/ CEA adopting a policy on the age range for the OOSC and using that to engage with the Ghana Statistical Service to extract the number of OOSC from the 2021 Population and Housing Census data, strengthening stakeholder’s collaboration and putting in place monitoring system to track reduction in the number of OOSC in Ghana.
As part of developing the strategic plan, the Acting Executive Director reiterated the need to reflect on the new mandate of CEA, as provided in the CEA Act2020 (Act1055), to develop a strategic plan that will guide operations of the CEA for the next 5 years.
The workshop considered the vision, mission, and values of the CEA to craft the strategic plan. Stakeholders also looked into the activities of the CEA and analyzed its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) associated with carrying out its day to day activities. It also looked at how to improve on the quality and productivity to enhance value and improve reliability of service delivery.
Issues regarding sponsorship and other alternative means of funding CEA programme were highly considered. Participants suggested that the regions and districts should be well resourced to intensify accelerated services and innovations to make the CEA more attractive. The CEA was advised to adopt a high performance culture to drive continuous improvement in the systems and processes for operationalization of the CEA mandate.
The workshop also placed premium on building the capacity of the agency in optimising the use of its human resources. In view of this, issues relating to staff motivation, professionalism and career development will be addressed by inviting professionals from other organizations to share their best practices with CEA staff.
It was further agreed that the CEA should strategically reposition itself to be the lead institution in complementary education delivery in Ghana as well as enhance its image and visibility.
In bringing the workshop to a close, the Director General for TVET service, Mrs. Mawusi Nudekor Awity, advised staff of CEA to adopt ownership spirt by developing the zeal and effort to work and do things exceptionally with or without money. She also pledged the readiness of TVET service to support CEA in all its skills development programs. She ended by advocating for a strong collaboration between the two institutions.
The Acting Executive Director, CEA was full of praises for participants’ inputs into the drafting of the CEA strategic plan. (2023-2028)
COMPLEMENTARY EDUCATION POLICY RECEIVES SUPPORT
The Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) has offered support to the Complementary Education Agency (CEA) in the form of Technical Assistance (TA) for the development of a Complementary Education Policy.
A Technical Committee inaugurated by the Minister for Education, Hon. Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum (MP) to supervise the task assigned to the Technical Assistance, had their maiden meeting on 10th June 2022 at Coconut Grove Regency Hotel, Ridge, Accra.
The meeting was on the urgency and importance of the assignment of the Technical Assistance.
In the Technical Committee’s deliberations with the Technical Assistance and the Complementary Education Agency team, led by the Acting Executive Director, Mr Francis Asumadu, they concluded that there is a need to establish the CEA Board in a short time.
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.
Complementary Education Agency (CEA) signed Memorandum of Understanding with Care International-Ghana. The Ag. Executive Director, Mr. Francis Asumadu and Mr. Philip K. A Deh signed on behalf of CEA while the Country Director, Rose Tchwenko and Mercy Sika Krow signed on behalf of Care Ghana. The ceremony was witnessed by other staff.
NEW HOPE FOR DROPOUT TEENAGE MOTHERS
The phenomenon of adolescent pregnancy has become a global canker hanging on the neck of teenage mothers particularly those in developing countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that each year, about 21 million girls aged between 15 and 19 years in developing countries become pregnant and approximately 12 million of them give birth. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNPF) at least 700,000 births occur among adolescent girls below 15 years in developing countries.
Although, the global adolescent fertility rate is reported to be declining, the number of childbirths to adolescents is on the rise due to the growing population of young women in the 15-19 age group. Information available at the UNPF again shows that the highest number of teen births occur in Eastern Asia and West Africa. Reports from the Ghana Statistical service indicate that almost 14% of adolescent girls aged between 15 and 19 years have started child bearing with 11% live births. Most of the girls who inadvertently become pregnant before the age of 18 are usually pressurized to marry with the attendant social consequences such as stigma and rejection by parents and peers. The situation becomes even worse when there is deprivation of education and employment opportunities for the adolescent mothers. This phenomenon can potentially lead them to drop out of school and consequently jeopardize their education, a situation which often leads to increase in poverty, illiteracy and other social disturbances.
JHS Remedial Students
Studies have shown that various interventions exist to enable girls who go through such experiences to revive their future by returning to school after childbirth. To arrest the growing occurrence of teenage school dropout as a result of childbirth, the Non-Formal Education Division (NFED) Regional Directorate responsible for Bono, Bono East and Ahafo regions has since 2018 rigorously embarked on an initiative to help revive the future of teenage mothers by providing out-of-school education as well as skills development programmes. Intense sensitization is done to encourage teenage girls who dropped out of school to give birth to access the program. Through this programme, the Regional Office of NFED is complementing the efforts of the Ghana Education Service (GES) and other stakeholders in the education sector of the country. This ultimately will contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal 4 which calls for an all-inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning for all.
In 2019 alone, fourteen (14) students were registered under this initiative from Odumase in the Sunyani West Municipality with five of them being teenage mothers.
Also, seventeen (17) out of sixty-six (66) students who benefited from the regions’ complimentary education program in 2020 were teenage mothers. This demonstrates the priority the office attaches to complementary education involving teenage mothers.
Nonetheless, most of these young mothers say, they were not given enough support and flexibility in their education during and after their pregnancy. They recount the unfortunate situation of discouragement by society and the lack of any form of home tuition or alternative teaching arrangements amid the troubles of their pregnancy.
Unfortunately, these girls stay away from school for a long time after becoming pregnant, resulting in most of these teenage mothers relapsing into illiteracy. However, we have been able to take them through our functional literary classes, which has given them a boost of hope for their education knowing that, their lives cannot be ruined by their conditions.
Fortunately, since 2018 through the sensitization drive of the regional office over 20 teenage mothers from the old Brong Ahafo Region have defied all odds to return to school. They now have a new lease of life to embark on their educational journey as their recovery rate is very encouraging.
Currently, these teenage mothers together with their kids are joyfully bubbling after they successfully went through our CBE facilitation, sat for the Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) and have been able to triumph through to various second cycle institutions in the country.
A beneficiary testified to a Journalist ”I dropped out of school when I was 16 years of age due to pregnancy. Since then, I have been in the house and currently with two (2) children, but thanks to this initiative, I am very hopeful for a brighter future”. Another beneficiary Agnes, 22 years old mother has also benefited from the NFED free remedial classes. She admonished, “I would like to tell my colleagues out there to join these free services so that, next year they can join the Government’s free Senior High School program”. Additionally, Justina a 19-year-old teenage mother who dropped out in her final year due to pregnancy also said, “I will advise all my colleagues who are facing a similar situation to come and join the centre and benefit from their free intriguing services”.
It is worth stating that, while facilitating their studies, the Division also prepare the girls for their new role as mothers, identify the potentials in them and encourage them to apply for further education. Some teenage mothers under our services are also benefiting from other life skills classes and counselling among others.
Matilda, another beneficiary told journalists, “I finished Secondary School fifteen (15) years ago but poorly performed. Based on that, I ruled out furthering my education and went into trading. Unfortunately, my shop got razed down by the fire. Consequently, life became unbearable for me and my family. So I decided to find another way out. This is why I joined the NFED’s free classes and I am very optimistic that, I can further my education to achieve my dream job”.
Furthermore, a graduate who couldn’t excel after completing school two years ago showed gratitude to the NFED for the opportunity given to them. “I am very grateful to Non-Formal Education for giving me this opportunity to rewrite the WASCE because I completed school in 2018 and couldn’t excel in my exams, in fact, I never thought I could get this opportunity but was fortunate to get it from the NFED. I say God bless them”.
The Non-Formal Education Division Regional Directorate responsible for the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regions is confident of reducing the incidence of teenage pregnancies and inculcating confidence and hope in them. We have been demonstrating love, encouragement and inspiration to teenage mothers and their babies especially in their period of hopelessness.
Most importantly, our new programs are aimed at giving young mothers who still want to further their education enough reasons to be cheerful and rebuild their self-confidence and esteem.
Moreover, we have found that early parenthood should not be a guarantee for educational and social deprivation. Hence, we are extending our services to more districts in the regional directorate where some communities have been infamous for this phenomenon. This, the office believes can potentially help influence their lives positively.
No matter the situation they find themselves, the office is keen on supporting all school dropouts, teenage mothers and students who could not make it to their desired educational heights due to poor academic performance. The office also encourages them to eschew worries and rely on them, because there are opportunities available to get them on the right path in life.
The office believes that they all deserve another chance; because literacy is not only a tool for social transformation but an alternative for building a new moral life. Also, more people becoming functionally literate would help reduce negative practices such as child labour, drug abuse and improve the conduct of business in society.
This year’s International Literacy Day (ILD)celebration took place at the forecourt of the
Bonokyempem Hall in Techiman, the capital of the Bono East Region on Wednesday, 8th September, 2021. Under the auspices of UNESCO, the Day reminds all member countries of the United Nation’s commitments to literacy activities since 1966. Also, the day prompts the world of the importance of literacy for individuals, communities and nations as well as the need to intensify efforts towards more literate societies. The global theme for this year’s celebrations is “Literacy for a Human Centred Recovery: Narrowing the Digital Divide” whilst the national theme is “Complementary Education and Human Development in the COVID-19 Era: The Role of Digital Literacy”. Hon. Gifty Twum-Ampofo read a speech on behalf of the Minister for Education, Hon. Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum. In attendance were the Banmuhene of Techiman Traditional Area, the Bono Regional Minister, Hon. Kwasi Adu Gyan and the former Minister for Education, Prof. Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi. On behalf of the UNESCO Country Director, Mr Diallo Abdourahamane, Ama Serwah Nierquaye-Tetteh delivered a solidarity message at the durbar. In relation to the 2021 Literacy year theme, the Executive Director of CENDLOS, Nana Gyamfi Adwabour, delivered a message on digital learning. Other dignitaries present were Rev. Fr. Martin Oduro Bilson and Sheik Kyei who did the opening and closing prayers respectively. In his address, the executive Director of NFED now known as Complementary Education Agency (CEA), Mr. Francis Asumadu who hosted the programme expressed his gratitude to the Government of Ghana for granting the Division an Agency status with Complementary Education ACT (1055, 2020).
He also thanked the Minister for Education, Hon. Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum for being instrumental with the rebranding with the CEA ACT(1055, 2020) .
He said, the new NFED/CEA will commence by rolling out 4 major programmes, namely: 1. Enhanced Functional Literacy Program,
- Remedial Education for school dropouts,
- Complementary Basic Education (CBE) for Out of school Children (OoSc) and
- Occupational Skills Development (OSDs) leading into Technical and Vocational Education.
Mr. Francis Asumadu also thanked the staff and Regional Director responsible for Ahafo, Bono and Bono East Regions for accepting the challenge to prepare the grounds for the celebration of the 2021 ILD in Techiman. He mentioned that, CEA mandate will be successful if the staff of the division change their attitude towards the work leading to a change in the organizational culture.
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION GIVES FIVE ISUZU PICK-UPS TO NFED.
The success of programme activities implementation and management, especially, field projects emanate from planned and thoroughly designed schedule of monitoring and evaluation.
It always presents a challenge, when the need arises for monitoring to be carried out or scaled up without vehicles to travel across the country.
The Fleet of the Division has broken down beyond repair leaving the Division with limited movement in the Regions, Metropolitans, Municipals and Districts of the country. This has thereby restricted the monitoring of programmes across the country.
Therefore, the presentation of the five Isuzu Pick-up vehicles to the Non-Formal Education Division (NFED) by the Ministry of Education came as a relief and a stitch that saved the monitoring aspect of the organization.
A sigh of relief is here carried by these Isuzu Pick-ups. Though five are severally inadequate, bird in hand is worth two in the bush.
The Division is future-full-of-hope that the Minister for Education, Hon. Dr. Matthew Opoku-Prempeh will extend further support to augment the fleet in all the Regions for effective monitoring.