Dr Apaak calls for evidence-based education response to emergencies

The Ministry of Education has urged West African nations, policymakers and development partners to invest in evidence-based education strategies, particularly for children impacted by conflict, disasters, displacement and other crises. Deputy Minister Dr Clement Apaak made this appeal on behalf of Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu at the ACCELERATE+ conference in Accra.

Dr Apaak emphasized that education responses to emergencies have historically been driven by urgency, which can lead to inefficient use of resources and unsuccessful interventions. He highlighted that West Africa currently faces multiple overlapping emergencies, such as insecurity, climate disasters, displacement, public health crises and economic pressures, all of which severely disrupt education.

The impact of these crises is not evenly distributed, particularly affecting girls, children with disabilities, rural communities and vulnerable households. Dr Apaak stressed that the consequences of disrupted education extend beyond lost lessons, impacting protection, nutrition, hope and regional prosperity. He called on stakeholders to rely on research and data to identify effective interventions, their reach, costs and conditions.

The ACCELERATE+ conference offered a crucial opportunity for researchers and policymakers from Ghana, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and other countries to discuss evidence on foundational learning, accelerated education programs, gender equality, social inclusion and the cost-effectiveness of education initiatives.