By Kingsley Webora TANKEH
The Girl Education Initiative Ghana (GEIG) has initiated their 'Read to Thrive' program at the Covenant Presby School located in Dzorwulu. The objective is to enhance reading skills among basic school students aged 8 to 15 years old.
The initiative spans the whole academic year, scheduling reading and writing activities each Saturday for the students. The program’s kickoff event was held in Accra with approximately 60 children and their families attending on Saturday, May 24, 2025.
At the launch event, Elizabeth Akua Nyarko Patterson, who founded and directs the Girl Education Initiative Ghana, was amazed by the significant turnout. She exclaimed with joy, "This fills me with pride; today is a great day for both myself and our organization." Nevertheless, she acknowledged the immense effort required to organize such an event.
She conveyed deep gratitude to the administration of Covenant Presby School and the facilitators involved in the program—primarily faculty members—for their support and for allowing them to host the event on the school grounds.
As she emphasized the scheduled activities, she mentioned, "We've prepared various resources and lesson plans. No matter how proficient your child may be as a reader, there will always be new things for them to discover. Our collection includes books suitable for each grade level."
"There are educational tools such as ABC charts, color identification cards, and flashcards for simple words—like three-letter and two-letter terms—that form the basis of students developing their vocabularies and learning to read," she explained.
She used her children as examples to support the idea that cultivating reading habits significantly aids children’s performance. "What my kids enjoy the most is reading. Should a child manage to read just a bit each day, even one short book, the benefits become evident," she explained. For instance, her son who is only six years old has already reached the fourth grade level. Hence, if her young son can achieve this, she doesn’t understand why other children couldn't accomplish similar success through consistent practice. She emphasized these points strongly.
Her dedication drives the mission of her organization—to offer chances to children irrespective of their familial origins and situations, ensuring they can compete equally with youngsters from various backgrounds and homes.
Research indicates that a significant number of Ghanaian children do not attain fundamental reading and math abilities by the conclusion of their primary schooling. This issue can be attributed partially to insufficient high-quality educational materials, inadequately prepared educators, and unequal opportunities for education, particularly affecting females and individuals with special needs.
According to the 2021 Population and Housing Census, 7.9 million people over the age of six in Ghana do not have fundamental reading and writing abilities.
The national standardized test implemented in 2021 for fourth-grade students revealed that merely 54% demonstrated proficiency in reading and comprehension skills. This led the Ghana Statistical Service to initiate a comprehensive countrywide study in 2024 aimed at evaluating educational poverty levels; however, the findings have not been published as of now.
Educational deprivation refers to the incapacity of children under the age of ten to comprehend basic reading materials. In an effort to address this issue at its onset, the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) has declared that Ghana will host the 2025 ADEA Triennial Conference on Education and Training from October 29-31, 2025, in Accra. The conference aims to focus on enhancing African education systems' resilience as they strive towards eliminating learning poverty by 2035 through cultivating a knowledgeable and proficient workforce not only within but also outside the continent.
To help combat learning poverty at a national level, the 'Read toGrow' initiative will offer boys and girls in grades 1 through 6 the chance to engage with top-tier reading and writing resources. These tools aim to equip students with appropriate literacy skills for their respective ages and foster a greater enthusiasm for reading among them.
Evelyn Amoama Antwi, the Headmistress of Covenant Presby School, showed appreciation to the organizers for selecting her institution as the venue for the event, underscoring the significant advantages that reading offers to students.
When children cultivate the habit of reading, it becomes evident in their academic achievements. Therefore, rather than having them watch television or cartoons, parents ought to promote and inspire their offspring to engage with literature," she recommended, further stating, "Once kids recognize that both myself and my siblings share an interest in what they're reading—whether it be noticed by me, our father, or our mother—they will strive to do their very best.
Stephen Braneh, who serves as the Chairman of the Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) at Covenant Presby School, has shown enthusiasm about collaborating with GEIG to foster better reading habits among students from Class Four. His own child participated in the program and he looks forward to this productive partnership.
"When it comes to our charges, we are always eager to volunteer and collaborate. This is the positive feedback we love to receive. Each parent present is prepared to bring their child every Saturday to participate," he concluded.
Launched in 2015, the Girl Education Initiative Ghana (GEIG), a non-governmental organization (NGO), offers both educational resources and financial assistance to enable girls as well as individuals with special needs or disabilities to pursue higher education and career prospects.
The organization has offered complete financial backing for 70 girls originating from the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions to progress from class six through their university education. They have impacted more than 5,000 individuals within these communities via their programs, conducted quarterly throughout the year.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. Syndigate.info ).
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