The Ghana Education Reform Agenda
The Government of Ghana initiated some key education reforms to transform teaching and learning and improve educational outcomes under the Education Strategic Plan (ESP 2018-2030) which was approved by cabinet in November 2018. These reforms are expected to contribute to the goals of the ESP and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4) and lead to the improvement of learning outcomes, especially at the pre-tertiary levels. The three main priorities of the education reforms are: Improved learning outcomes, enhanced accountability and equity at all levels of the education sector.
The main objective for embarking on these key reforms is to make our educational system relevant to changing national development priorities and renewed goals and aspirations. It is also to ensure that our educational system adjusts to context and time; as well as advancement in technologies, industry, creativity and knowledge economy. These new reform initiatives exist to provide clear performance standards to guide teaching, learning, assessment and grading of students. The reforms will professionalize teaching and ensure standards.
The Ministry of Education is coordinating the implementation of these reform initiatives through the National Education Reform Secretariat to ensure alignment and coordination of reforms within the framework of the Education Strategic Plan. The secretariat is also to ensure accountability for each reform owner, build capacity of reform owners and identify and resolve blockages, obstacles and bottlenecks to the implementation of the reforms.
Empowering The Next Generation
National Council for Curriculum and Assessment
National Teaching Council
The 12 key Education Reform areas are:
Policy on Teacher Education Reforms led by the NCTE through T-TEL
Leads to the conversion of the Colleges of Education into University Colleges and the rollout of a new Bachelor of Education teacher education curriculum to improve the quality of new teachers for the basic education sector.
Pre-Tertiary Curriculum Reform through NaCCA
Leads to the design and implementation of a new pre-tertiary education curriculum with Standards and Assessment frameworks.
Legal, Institutional and Regulatory Reforms
Leads to the creation of a new agency that combines the functions of the National Accreditation Board (NAB) and the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE).
Tertiary Education Reform
Leads to the conversion of the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI) and the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) into one University; and the consolidation of the Kumasi Campus of the University of Education Winneba and a few existing COEs into a Technical Teacher Training University, in addition to other governance and regulatory reforms.
Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Reforms
Realignment of all Technical and Vocational Institutions (TVIs) to be under MOE and creates a Technical and Vocational Education Service (TVES) to govern them.
Operationalization of Pre-Tertiary Teacher Professional and Management Development Framework through NTC
Leads to the establishment of a teacher licensing and registration system in Ghana, and a framework for teacher career progression based on the acquisition of skills and competencies.
Introduction of a new school supervision and inspection system through NIB
Leads to the establishment of a new inspection framework, inspection tools and revised inspection protocols, in partnership with Education Development and OFSTED.
Basic Education Decentralisation Reform
Leads to the devolution of Basic Education to District Assemblies, impacting the functions of the GES, NTC, NaCCA and NIB.
Ghana Partnership School
Leads to MOE and GES partnering with non-state actors to manage and deliver effective education service in public senior high schools.
GES Institutional and Human Resource Reform
Leads to the streamlining of GES’s operations to increase efficiency and reduce the redundancies resulting from Basic Education decentralisation, and a comprehensive reform of HR systems.
ICT in Education Reforms
Seeks to develop early desire and competences in children to use ICT, equip pre-tertiary learners with ICT skills, infuse ICTs into education management, and transform teacher development and tertiary education through technology-based training.
Secondary Education Reform (4 Pillars)
With the Free SHS Programme, MOE seeks to absorb all fees paid at the senior high school level, and additionally to expand physical infrastructure, improve quality, and promote skill development and equity.
These reforms are aligned to the Education Strategic Plan (2018-2030), and are designed to strengthen the sector institutions to overcome their capacity gaps, and accomplish the goals outlined in the Education Sector Plan. The end goals of these reforms are “to deliver quality education service at all levels that will equip learners in educational institutions with the skills, competencies and awareness that would make them functional citizens who can contribute to the attainment of the national development goals.”
The Ministry of Education intends to deliver these reform initiatives through a coordinated approach and is expected to create linkages and co-dependencies between the different sub-sectors for the successful implementation of the ESP. The National Education Reform Secretariat (NERS) was therefore set up and charged with the mandate to ensure that these reforms are not just delivered at a national level (through the production of a curriculum or legal and policy documents) but that they are effectively implemented throughout the system so that they have a positive impact on learning outcomes in schools.
Establishment/Functions of Reform Secretariat
Coordination: Alignment and coordination of reforms within the Framework of the ESP to ensure synergies and linkages
Accountability: Clear ownership and accountability for each reform through a named reform owner working with RS (Performance Reporting through Performance Management Framework)
Capacity Building: Each Reform Owner (RO) is able to access to capacity development and advice facilitated by the Reform Secretariat to support implementation
Problem-Solving: Identification and resolution of bottlenecks, obstacles to implement priority reforms and learning outcomes
Reform Secretariat Funding
Grant agreement signed between GoG and DFID in the sum of £2,682,700.00 to support Education Beyond Aid (EBA)-Ghana as follows:
Complementary Basic Education- £1,100,00.00
Reform Secretariat-£1,582,700.00
Secretariat Inaugurated in Dec 2018
Governance Structure
1.Reform Steering Committee (RSC)
Reform Steering Committee (RSC)
- Chaired by the Minister of Education
- Provides the highest level of accountability to drive reforms
- Meets quarterly to review progress against each of initiatives
- Committee will receive and discuss reports
- Reform Coordinator is the secretary and provides progress reports and analysis
2. National Education Reform Secretariat (NERS)
National Education Reform Secretariat (NERS)
- Led by National Reform Coordinator
- NERS reports directly to the Minister of Education
- Responsible for organizing RSC meetings
- NERS ensure that ROs develop roadmaps, with SMART KPIs, milestones, clear activities and targets
3. Reform Technical Working Group (TWG)
Reform Technical Working Group (TWG)
- TWG is composed of all Reform Owners and agencies
- Coordinated and Chaired by National Reform Coordinator
- TWG meets monthly to oversee and coordinate all technical activities for each Reform Initiative
- Flags and address areas of concern
- Discuss mitigation measures and plan for action
4. Reform Owners
- Reform Owners are the agencies responsible for the implementation of Reform Initiative
- Develop roadmap on prioritized KPIs
- Implement roadmap
- Work closely with NERS to address implementation gaps
- Collect data to evidence performance
- Receive Technical support from NERS
Delivery Approach
Prioritization and Resourcing
Prioritize deliverables in the ESP based on resources, time, capacity and relevance:
Prioritization and Resourcing
- Priority Level I: Minister’s Result Framework
- Priority Level II: Key Reform Initiatives
- Roadmaps: 2-6 KPIs
Data, Information & Routines
Develop good data and metrics to measure what matters:
Data, Information & Routines
- Monitoring plan: Collect regular and reliable data
- Report Template: Monthly reporting, Analyse data
- Feedback Mechanism: Feedback to trigger discussion and inform decision
Analysis of data to mitigate challenges and risks:
Analysis and Understanding of Delivery Issues
- Stakeholders actively engaged in analysing delivery issues and owning outcomes.
- TWG: Monthly technical working meetings, Quarterly
- Accounting to Minister: Accounting to Minister Forums
- Collaboration and Harmonization Meetings
Accountability for performance
- Accounting to Minister forum: Quarterly face-to-face with the Hon. Minister
- Performance Agreement: Mid and End of year Performance Evaluation
- Learning and improving: lessons learned and course correct Strike the right balance between planning and delivery, recognizing which areas can achieve rapid results and others where it may take a longer time.
Accounting to the Minister
Further comments and feedback should be sent to:
Email: reformsecretariatmoe@gmail.com / CommsReformSec@gmail.com