The Center for Educational Innovation and Leadership (CEIL) of the University for Development Studies has organized stakeholders forum in partnership with NORSAAC and Oxfam to dialogue on the low educational outcomes among schools in the five northern regions.
Education remains a powerful tool for bridging economic and social inequalities of all forms especially in rural communities and presents an opportunity for human transformation.
It is for this critical reason that the UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 highlights on the need for quality education for all by 2030.
The meeting was held on the theme: “Northern Dialogue on Low Educational Outcomes in Northern Schools: The Role of Gender Transformative Education.”
The Dean of Faculty of Education at UDS, Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Gunu, in his remarks presented a very worrying data on the performance of students at both basic school and second cycle education in the north.
Performance data
Dr Gunu observed for instance, at the Junior High School level, the Upper West in 2018 recorded 49.7%, 48.3% in 2019 and in 2020 scored 48.6%. He said the Upper East in 2018 also scored 52.9%, the same figure in 2019 but scored 48.6% in 2020.
The Dean of Faculty of Education argued the story is not different at the public second cycle schools as it also records such trend of abysmal performance.
“For instance in Northern Region in 2018, 26 schools were presented for the WASSCE examination, 17 schools scored less than 5%, 4 schools scored 0%. In 2019, 26 schools were presented for the final examination with 15 schools scored less 5%, 1 school scored 0% and in 2020, 27 schools were presented for the final examination 15 scored less 5%.”
In view of the above situation, Dr Gunu said the poor performance of students in the five regions cannot be accidental or attributed to bad luck; and therefore calls for a conscious effort on the part of all stakeholders to reverse the phenomenon of the public schools in the north as they always languish in the bottom of the WASSCE/BECE rankings.
Action Plan
He noted therefore that the forum is established to be an annual citizen-led platform that tracks the progress of public educational institutions annually and to hold public authorities accountable to their commitment towards improving education in the regions.
He intimated the time to act is now and the platform will provide measures that can help schools improve educational outcomes and bring back their past glories.
“We intend to adopt monitoring tools from Oxfam to aid the faculty to do its work effectively” he indicated.
Response
Meanwhile, the Savannah Regional Minister, Mr. Muazu Jibril, on behalf of his colleague Ministers for the Northern, North East, Upper East and Upper West Regions said the concerns raised pertaining to the poor learning outcomes of children in public schools is well placed and commended the swift intervention of the non-state actors for collaborating with UDS to come out with this initiative.
“At various RCCs and even MMDAs level this issue has been discussed and considered on various occasions but it is a fact that not much has changed significantly, we continue to witness this sad situation, with some of our schools barely able to produce just one candidate to acquire the 6 credits at WASSCE or BECE level” he lamented.
The Minister therefore admitted this is the appropriate time for a comprehensive and holistic consideration of the phenomenon to be well addressed.
