The GALOP, which was birthed in 2019 and is expected to end in 2025, is an initiative meant to improve the quality of education in 10,579 low-performing basic schools across the country.

It is funded through the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank and the Trust Fund facilities and targeted to improve teacher quality through training, improving school management by providing learning grants to schools for the purchase of teaching and learning materials (TLMs) and building the capacity of school management committees (SMCs).

The IDA is providing $150 million while the remaining $60 million is provided by the Trust Fund.

When the visiting World Bank Managing Director of Operations, Anna Bjerde, went on a tour of one of the beneficiary schools — the New Gbawe Municipal Assembly Basic One, located at New Gbawe in the Greater Accra Region yesterday (July 13), it came to light that although the project targeted 2.3 million pupils, it had so far reached 2.9 million pupils.

A mid-term review of the project, which revealed the success so far chalked up, also showed that all the over 10,500 beneficiary schools achieved an 80 per cent utilisation rate.

Again, the review showed that school management committees (SMCs) in all the schools were functional, with members trained on learning under the School Performance Improvement Plans (SPIP).

Satisfaction

Ms Bjerde expressed satisfaction at the success the project had achieved and gave an assurance that the World Bank would continue to support the country to improve on basic education.

"Human capital is the most important ingredient for development and that is why the World Bank is investing in Ghana’s education sector.

We believe that this will help to create sustainable livelihoods and address poverty," she said.

Ms Bjerde said it was refreshing that the project had made a great impact in the beneficiary schools.

"We look forward to other areas that we need to work to improve education, and we are ready to work with the Ministry of Education," she said.

She underscored the need to pay more attention to early childhood development to lay a solid foundation for pupils. 

Transformation

For his part, the Deputy Minister in charge of General Education, Rev. Ntim Fordjour, described the GALOP as "a phenomenal intervention" that needed to be sustained to improve basic education.

He said since the implementation of the intervention, there had been a positive classroom environment for teachers and students, leading to improved outcomes.

He commended the World Bank for its support and asked for more partnership between the two sides going forward.

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Weija-Gbawe, Patrick Kwesi Brako Kumor, said the GALOP intervention had been a game changer for the seven beneficiary schools in the municipality.