Ghana

Programmes

‘On behalf of the Ghana Education Service I express our sincere appreciation for the services that LCD is making available for Ghanaian Teachers and School administrators’ . 
Mr Emmanuel Opare, Deputy Director Basic Education GES

Aims and objectives
The main aim of the programme is to improve the quality of education delivered to children in poor and remote areas of Ghana. This is done by:
• helping district departments to improve the way they work with their schools;
• improving the mangement and governance in schools;
• encouraging community involvement in school life;
helping district departments to improve the way they work with their schools;
• sharing the lessons learnt with all schools, communiies, government departments and funders.

 
School Performance Review
School performance review is a process to measure each schools performance against a set of common indicators. Data collection is undertaken by district officials supported by LCD staff. Data is analysed and a district report is completed which informs district planning. A district schools conference provides the platform for the district to engage directly with schools to discuss overall performance and activities planned to improve school performance.

District Education Project – Upper East Region and Ashanti Region
LCD has been working in the Upper East Region since 1999 and in Ashanti Region since 2004. The key objective of the programme is straightforward – supporting district management and specialist staff to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their work with schools. The activities include district planning, school performance review, head teacher training, teacher training and school governance through School Management Committee capacity building.
 
Supporting schools
LCD supports schools in a number of ways. Schools undergo training in financial management to increase understanding of the importance of transparency in all financial matters.

Involving the Community
Community members and parents are encouraged to get involved in the running of the school by standing on School Governing Bodies (SGBs). This means they have a say in the education being delivered to their children as well as being able to hold the school to account. Fundraising is also an important part of community involvement. It promotes a long term active interest in the schools prospects and development.

Building district capacity
LCD works with district departments of education, helping staff to improve their support to schools and to spread best practice between all the schools in their areas (not just the ones LCD has the capacity to be involved with).

Sharing Learning
LCD aims to share the lessons learned from the project with the Ghana Education Service and others in the education sector. This is hoped to influence national policy and therefore make a difference to education across the whole country. Lessons learned from the Ghana project are also shared with LCD programmes in Malawi, South Africa, Uganda and the UK to promote best practice as widely as possible.
 
Solar Connect
In 2009, we plan to introduce Solar Connect to selected schools in Ashanti. Solar connect involves provision of solar panels to schools, connection via an inverter to batteries, low powered linux based notebooks, connected to internet via cell connections.   

Partners
LCD Ghana works in partnership with the following organisations:
• Ghana Education Service
• Upper East Region and Ashanti District Education Departments
• LCD Malawi, LCD South Africa, LCD Uganda & LCD UK
• Voluntary Services Overseas

Partnership with VSO
LCD Ghana has been working with VSO since 2003 and has hosted 6 volunteers in Bolgatanga. Currently, 2 are working with the LCD Bolga team to provide district support. We are currently in discussion with VSO about a potential extension of VSO involvement with LCD.