91% of Ghana’s literate population are aged 15 and below – Haruna Iddrisu

Ghana's Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, revealed that around 91% of the country's literate population falls within the age group of 15 and below, which he considers a promising indication of Ghana's literacy advancements. In an address at the launch of the Government's Flagship Foundational Learning Agenda, the minister highlighted that the nation's literacy rate currently stands at approximately 78%, in contrast to the global rate of 98%.

Iddrisu emphasized the importance of focusing on foundational learning to ensure children develop essential reading and writing skills at an early age. He expressed the government's commitment to providing every child with a robust start in education, aligning with President John Dramani Mahama's educational reforms. The minister also cautioned against premature evaluations of his performance, suggesting that significant improvements in education would only become apparent over a longer timeframe, ideally a decade.

Addressing disparities in educational quality, Iddrisu noted differences between rural and urban areas, as well as between public and private schools. He assured that the new strategy would aim to bridge these inequalities, ensuring that no child is deprived of foundational education due to factors such as gender, location, or financial status. He also reaffirmed Ghana's commitment to working alongside the British government and other organizations to achieve the goals of the agenda.

Recalling the 1992 Constitution's guarantee of free, compulsory, and universal basic education, Iddrisu underscored the government's determination to fulfill this commitment. He further explained that investing in early childhood education, particularly before the age of five, could significantly enhance children's educational performance, school readiness, and overall educational completion rates.