{
  "id": 9604035,
  "title": "Ghana to host high-level conference on scaling education initiatives in emergencies",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/ghana-to-host-high-level-conference-on-scaling-education-initiatives",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-24T18:25:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/ghana-to-host-high-level-conference-on-scaling-education-initiatives-in-emergencies/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ghana will host the second high-level conference on scaling education initiatives in emergencies, bringing together global experts in Accra on September 29 and 30, 2026. The conference aims to discuss practical strategies for protecting education during crises, scaling successful interventions, and mobilizing sustainable financing for education responses. Minister for Education Haruna Iddrisu stated the conference will address four key questions: what works when schools close due to a crisis; scaling successful interventions beyond pilot projects; financing education interventions when ministries lack emergency contingency funds; and collective actions by West African countries to protect education during emergencies.\n\nIddrisu cited the COVID-19 pandemic as a major example of how emergencies can disrupt education systems, leading to millions of learners losing instructional time and in some cases, unable to return to school. Ghana responded by introducing digital mechanisms to sustain learning during the pandemic. However, the Minister highlighted that conflicts and other emergencies can have severe consequences, resulting in increased dropout rates, teenage pregnancies, learning losses, and worse literacy and numeracy outcomes. Conflicts in areas like Bawku, as well as developments in Burkina Faso and Mali, have disrupted education by forcing teachers to leave communities and schools, and learners and their families to relocate to safer areas.\n\nIddrisu also raised concerns about emergencies in communities without access to basic facilities such as electricity, radio, smartphones, or other digital learning tools. He emphasized that education interventions must consider the realities of vulnerable and underserved communities. Additionally, he highlighted the impact of the Akosombo Dam spillage in October 2023, which submerged communities and schools, resulting in the loss of school furniture, textbooks, records, and examination preparations. This disruption occurred at a time when affected learners were still expected to participate in national examinations.",
  "summary": "Ghana will host West Africa’s second high-level conference on scaling education initiatives in emergencies, bringing together researchers, innovators, financiers, and academics from across the world to deliberate on how education systems can remain resilient during crises.",
  "key_points": [
    "Ghana to host high-level conference on September 29-30, 2026",
    "Conference aims to scale education initiatives in emergencies",
    "Minister cites COVID-19 and conflicts as education disruptors"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Adom Online",
        "title": "Ghana to host high-level conference on education in emergencies",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/ghana-to-host-high-level-conference-on-education-in-emergencies",
        "published": "2026-09-24T17:17:13.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}