Elevating The Ghana School Feeding Program to Nourish Minds & Enrich Lives: An Update on Ghana’s School Feeding Program

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Elevating The Ghana School Feeding Program to Nourish Minds & Enrich Lives: An Update on Ghana’s School Feeding Program

By Ernestina Addo

 

Hunger has long been a barrier to learning for children in poverty-stricken areas worldwide. To address this prominent challenge, Ghana embarked on a remarkable initiative, The Ghana School Feeding Program (GSFP), to bridge the gap between children from poor backgrounds and access to food. Through the provision of meals, the program offers a lifeline to countless young minds and ensures that they have the sustenance they need to learn, grow and excel academically.

The Ghana School Feeding Program GSFP, launched in 2005 through a collaborative effort by the government of Ghana and the Africa Agricultural Development Program (CAADP) Pillar 3, sought to eliminate hunger and simultaneously support local agriculture by utilising domestically grown food to provide meals for children.

According to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the GSFP has both long term and immediate objectives. The long-term objective is multi-faceted, with a primary focus on poverty reduction and addressing food insecurity, particularly in low-income households. Additional long term objectives include boosting domestic food production by sourcing from the local economy, thereby reducing reliance on food imports. This helps create a sustainable and self-sufficient food system for the country. The immediate objective of the GSFP is to increase school enrollment by providing children with a compelling reason to attend school regularly. The program removes a barrier that may prevent children from attending school due to hunger or the inability to afford meals (source).

A Flagstaff House Basic School caterer, Hajia Safiya Alhassan provided some insight into her experience with the school feeding program.

“The School Feeding Program has made a significant impact on countless children. Many parents face challenges in providing food for their kids, making some unable to send them to school. Thanks to the Ghana School Feeding Program, we have witnessed a steady increase in attendance.”

At its core, the GSFP recognizes the fundamental connection between nutrition and education. Providing regular meals to schoolchildren addresses a critical aspect of their well-being, ensuring they are adequately nourished physically and mentally.

This foundational support sets the stage for better learning outcomes, improved concentration, and enhanced student cognitive abilities.

Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Lariba Zuweira Abudu serving students hot meals (source)

In a recent mission on 4th and 5th September 2023, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Lariba Zuweira Abudu and her team supervised and elevated the Ghana School Feeding Program (GSFP) in the Greater Accra Region. The mission aimed to enhance the program’s initiatives. During the visit, the Minister engaged in productive discussions with the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Hon Henry Quartey. The Minister also interacted with the media, discussing various topics, including the School Feeding Program, LEAP Monitoring Exercise, Streetism and the Affirmative Action Bill.

Additionally, the team visited schools, like the Police Depo School at Tesano, to assess the effectiveness of the school feeding program and engage with pupils. They also met with GSFP caterers to reaffirm the government’s commitment to ensuring all pupils benefit from the program and address challenges caterers face.

Re-imagining Education with Equity for All International Community School

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Re-imagining Education with Equity for All International Community School Hosts Annual Educators’ Bootcamp Conference in Kumasi Ahead of the 2023 – 2024 Academic Year

by Enoch Oye

In the continuously evolving sphere of education, it is imperative that educators remain at the forefront of advancements. Within the International Community School (ICS) framework, we uphold a significant tradition—an annual assembly of our entire staff across all ICS campuses preceding the commencement of each new academic year. Educators’ Bootcamp program is carefully curated to reequip and empower our staff with the requisite knowledge, skills, and attitudes that align with the prevailing trends in education. This commitment is rooted in ICS’s mission to provide quality and inclusive education.

While most professional development in education is inclined towards the art of teaching, the Educators’ Bootcamp ‘23 took a deep dive into the science of learning to elevate teachers’ proficiency and impact. The key reference book throughout the program was How Learning Works, co-authored by Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey and John Almarode. The book emphasizes practices with high effect sizes and shows how teachers can design better learning experiences that align with the science of learning.

At the bootcamp, educators gained tools to effectively leverage knowledge of essential learning principles in the classroom. The Educators’ Bootcamp ’23 featured keynote addresses from two distinguished speakers: Dr. Charles Yeboah, the Director and Founder of ICS, and Mr. Kwame Simmons Sr., Director Of Education at the Hantz Foundation and founder of the renowned Simmons Advantage in the United States.

In his enlightening speech, Dr. Charles Yeboah delved into the thought-provoking theme of ‘Reimagining Education.’ He tasked attendees to explore innovative strategies and visionary perspectives aimed at reshaping the educational landscape to meet the evolving needs of learners in the 21st century.

Following Dr. Yeboah’s compelling address, Mr. Kwame Simmons delivered his keynote on “The Power of Growth Mindset: Fostering Resilient Learners.” Mr. Simmons highlighted real-world insights and challenges in learning. He also underscored the critical role of nurturing a growth mindset in students by empowering them to embrace those challenges, overcome obstacles, and develop themselves into resilient, lifelong learners. These thought-provoking addresses set the tone for an engaging and transformative Educators’ Bootcamp, inspiring our teaching staff to explore new horizons in education and empower their students with the tools for enduring success.

After keynote sessions, participants had the opportunity to engage in various learning sessions led by experienced facilitators, drawn from the Accra and Kumasi ICS faculty team. The learning sessions centered on the following five learning principles and strategies: Motivation, Attention, Elaborate Encoding, Retrieval Practice, Productive Struggle, Self-Testing and Goal Setting. The purpose of each learning session was to delve into the practical application of the principle in the classroom.  Additionally, educators collaborated in planning sessions to coordinate how learners can actively foster, nurture and sustain their learning through intrinsic motivation, productive struggle, self-testing and other learning principles. By designing mini lesson plans, assessment strategies, and classroom activities that incorporate these principles, participants ensured that their training directly applied to their daily teaching practices.

The resounding message throughout the Educators’ Bootcamp 23’ is that effective teaching is more than just delivering content; it’s about facilitating meaningful learning experiences. Educators believe that learning by doing is the most effective way to internalize key learning principles.

The annual ICS’ Educators’ Bootcamp is open for registration to all educators, both in the private and public sectors, with the hope of sharing and collaborating best practices across schools in Ghana.

 

GHASCD’s Maiden Leadership Conversations: leading in Sync

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Ghana ASCD hosted a thought-provoking leadership conversation focused on harnessing expertise and experience of teachers for school improvement.

The Event brought together educational personnel from various educational institutions to discuss effective strategies and share best practices. We believe that collaborative leadership is key to driving positive change in our schools and nurturing future leaders.

This episode of Leadership Conversations was facilitated by Dr. Jill Harrison Berg. Her book, Leading in Sync was key to the conversations that ensued at the Event.

Second NELI Stakeholder Summit

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The second stakeholder summit of the National Educational Leadership Institute (NELI) pilot program played a crucial role in reaffirming the NELI concept and garnering increased support from essential educational stakeholders in Ghana. The summit welcomed a diverse array of esteemed guests, including Heads of Agencies from the Ministry of Education, NELI Curriculum Developers, Facilitators, University Heads of Department, and representatives from the Ministry of Education.

At this pivotal gathering, inquiries regarding the feasibility of NELI were not only posed but also delved into through thoughtful discussions. This summit marked a significant milestone, serving as the culmination of efforts directed towards the training of facilitators, coaches, advisors, and the formulation of a robust curriculum for the NELI pilot.

A distinctive aspect of this event was the proactive approach taken by GhanaASCD, addressing concerns directly with our key project consultants. In-depth explanations were provided, elucidating the pivotal impact areas of the NELI project and articulating the anticipated outcomes. This ensured a comprehensive understanding and garnered heightened support from stakeholders.

By providing a platform for open dialogue and thorough explanation, the summit solidified NELI’s trajectory, positioning it as a transformative force in the landscape of educational leadership in Ghana. This collaborative effort emphasizes the commitment to excellence in education and underscores the collective determination to elevate the standards of educational leadership in the country. 

Ghana ASCD News

Belinda Amoah

NELI Facilitator/ Coaches Training

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As an integral component of the NELI Pilot implementation, a comprehensive training program was conducted to equip Facilitators, Coaches, and Advisors with the necessary skills to guide and support the inaugural cohort of the project. Their primary role entails instructing and assisting NELI participants through the foundational curriculum on Transformational Leadership.

In a proactive initiative, Ghana ASCD in Kumasi embarked on a week-long session dedicated to the training of facilitators, simultaneously fostering buy-in and support among coaches and advisors for the imminent NELI initial implementation. Facilitators were meticulously selected to represent diverse regions, ensuring a well-rounded and regionally inclusive approach.

This engaging training session brought together educational leaders from various sectors, providing them with a deep dive into the NELI program course modules. Notably, these leaders were afforded the unique opportunity to experience firsthand what the forthcoming NELI initial cohort would undergo. The event was graced by the presence of educational leaders hailing from every corner of Ghana, showcasing the nationwide enthusiasm and commitment to the NELI initiative.

This proactive and inclusive approach by Ghana ASCD not only facilitated skill development among the facilitators but also created a platform for educational leaders to gain insights and firsthand experience of the transformative journey awaiting the NELI initial cohort. The nationwide representation further exemplified the widespread support and collaborative spirit embedded in the NELI initiative.

 

Ghana ASCD News

Belinda Amoah

NELI Stakeholder Consultations

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Ghana ASCD had its inaugural Stakeholder Summit on August 12-13, 2022, to initiate discussions about the National Educational Leadership Institute (NELI) pilot program. The summit brought together important players from the Ministry of Education, MoE Agencies, heads of selected secondary schools in Ghana, and organizations such as the Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (IEPA) and Transforming Teaching, Education and Learning (T-TEL)  to gain buy-in and support, as well as expert guidance on the ‘NELI idea’ and how to effectively implement it.

Whereas the purpose of the Summit was to engage local expertise in interrogating and improving the initial planning drafts that were shared for the NELI, the measure of success was to end the Summit with a more complete draft that addresses the authentic needs as these experts see them and secures shared ownership over the plan.

The objectives for the two-day working session were the following:

To tap the expertise, experiences and assets of the education community in Ghana in service of co-constructing:

  • A strategy for operationalizing a new National Educational Leadership Institute ;(NELI) designed to strengthen educational leadership and management, and 
  • A pilot for its flagship initiative: the Educational Leadership Development (Ed LD) program. To build community among the educational leaders, organizations and agencies working within the Ghanaian education system so that we can leverage the power of our network and our relational trust in service of stronger outcomes for students and Ghana’s future.

Following that, the NELI project would hold additional meetings with heads of agencies in the Ministry of Education, private school leaders, the Minister for Education, and the IEPA to finalize plans for the pilot’s actual execution. Heads of Educational Institutions engaging with NELI content

 

GHANA ASCD                                                                                              

BELINDA AMOAH

National Educational Leadership Institute (NELI)

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In August 2022, Ghana ASCD received substantial funding to contribute significantly to the Ministry of Education’s overarching objective of establishing the National Educational Leadership Institute (NELI). This initiative aims to deliver comprehensive leadership training to both current and aspiring educational leaders across all levels of the education sector.

Building upon the endorsement “in principle” by the Cabinet of the Government of Ghana, the program to train educational leaders was envisioned as a means to enhance learning outcomes in schools. The Cabinet mandated a six-month proof of concept implementation, with a subsequent report to evaluate the pilot’s impact on schools and learning. Based on the outcomes, the government would then decide on the incorporation of NELI training as a requisite for school leaders.

In response to this critical mandate, Ghana ASCD formulated a multifaceted strategy, outlining two primary streams of work:

  • Stream 1: Supporting Initial NELI Setup
    – Spearheading the establishment of the National Educational Leadership Institute.
    – Formulating a comprehensive strategy, roadmap, business plan, operational guidelines, and budget for the setup of NELI.
    – Offering expert advice on the optimal structure, staffing, and operational requirements for NELI.
    – Collaborating with the Ministry of Education and relevant agencies to facilitate the recruitment of permanent staff for NELI.

 

  • Stream 2: Developing a Pilot Educational Leadership Program
    – Crafting and refining course modules and manuals to form the foundation of the pilot educational leadership program.

 

  • Stream 3: Providing Technical Support to IEPA for NELI’s Initial Implementation**
    – Offering specialized technical support to the Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (IEPA) for the seamless initiation of NELI.

This comprehensive approach underscores Ghana ASCD’s commitment to not only support the establishment of NELI but also to ensure the success of the pilot educational leadership program and the subsequent implementation of NELI, aligning with the government’s vision for enhancing educational leadership nationwide. The multifaceted strategy reflects Ghana ASCD’s dedication to contributing substantively to the transformative goals set by the Ministry of Education.

Ghana ASCD News
Belinda Amoah