Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Minister of Education has urged parents and guardians to support children to learn as schools have closed due to the outbreak of COVID-19.

He said they should guide them to take advantage of virtual learning, which had been introduced by the Ministry and its partners.

Dr Prempeh was speaking at the launch of the Ghana Learning Radio Programme via Webinar zoom platform.

It was done in collaboration with the Otumfuo Educational Fund, UNICEF, USAID, Right to Play, Lively Minds and the Ghana Education Service.

The Education Minister commended the partners, especially, the United States of America for the swift intervention it provided for the Programme, which he said would strengthen the tides between the two countries.

The Minister said about 4.5 million Ghanaians would get the opportunity to learn whilst at home with the launch of the programme, which would be aired on the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation’s Radio networks across the country.

He said 700,000 pupils from the lower grades would benefit from Ghanaian designed curriculum in all the core subjects, adding that, about 51,000 teachers would be given instructional materials, teaching aids, among others to that effect.

Dr Prempeh praised the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation for the space and encouraged all parents and guardians to rally behind the programme, “as together, they would all help achieve in the educational lives of the Ghanaian children”.

Ms Stephanie Sullivan, US Ambassador to Ghana said they were committed to improving the reading level of pupils in the Kindergarten and Primary in Ghana.

She said the lessons would include family health and hygiene, sexual assault, early pregnancy, storytelling, games, improve reading, writing and imaginative skills.

Dr Kwabena Bempah Tandoh, Deputy Director, Quality and Access of the Ghana Education Service said it had developed a word sheet to help guide parents and guardians.

He said the time table, for now, would tackle six subjects and later be expanded, stating that the one-hour lessons would be aired on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 10:30 hours to 11:30 hours and repeated on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 16:00 hours.

As part of the project, Okyeame Kwame has composed a song, which encourages children to take advantage of the programme to study hard and become great leaders as well as spread the news.