Ghana and Nigeria have agreed to deepen cooperation on reducing the number of out-of-school children, following talks between Northern Regional Minister Ali Adolf John and a Nigerian delegation in Tamale on Tuesday.
The discussions, held at the Northern Regional Coordinating Council, brought together officials from Nigeria, Ghana’s Complementary Education Agency (CEA) and the UK-funded Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) as part of a learning exchange programme on inclusive education.
CEA officials said the Nigerian delegation was in Ghana to study the Complementary Basic Education Programme, which has been credited with enrolling thousands of out-of-school children, particularly in remote and underserved communities.
Mr. Adolf John said the problem of educational exclusion cuts across borders in the sub-region and requires shared, evidence-driven solutions. He welcomed Nigeria’s interest in Ghana’s approach and commended CEA and FCDO for supporting inclusive education interventions.
The Minister outlined key elements of Ghana’s strategy, including stronger parental involvement in monitoring school attendance and performance, as well as alternative education pathways for children already outside the formal school system.
These alternatives, he said, include technical, vocational and entrepreneurship training programmes that equip young people with practical skills for self-employment and long-term livelihoods.
Both countries agreed to pursue a structured learning exchange to share policies, implementation models and operational strategies aimed at reducing the number of out-of-school children.
Mr. Adolf John assured the delegation of the Northern Regional Coordinating Council’s support for efforts to scale up inclusive education programmes, particularly for marginalized children in the region.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
