Build resilient education systems for emergencies – Deputy Minister

The Second High-Level Conference on Scaling Education Initiatives in Emergencies (EiE) in West Africa kicked off in Accra, emphasizing the need for countries to bolster education systems to withstand crises and safeguard learning outcomes. Over two days, the conference explored evidence on interventions aimed at enhancing access, learning, safety, and psychosocial well-being for children impacted by fragility, conflict, and violence.

Hosted by Associates for Change (AfC) alongside education stakeholders from Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria, the gathering convened roughly 150 policymakers, researchers, educators, and development partners to exchange insights, evaluate successful practices during emergencies, and identify scalable interventions across the sub-region.

During his opening remarks, Deputy Minister of Education Dr. Clement Abas Apaak called on West African nations to fortify their education systems, ensuring children can continue their studies amidst emergencies. He highlighted ongoing disruptions caused by conflicts, displacement, floods, droughts, health crises, and economic pressures, noting that girls, children with disabilities, and those from rural or disadvantaged areas face disproportionate challenges.

Dr. Apaak pointed to Ghana's COVID-19 pandemic experience, which revealed gaps in remote learning access, particularly for children lacking devices, electricity, internet connectivity, or adult support, further exacerbating educational disparities.