A high-level engagement between Ghana’s Ministry of Education and a delegation from The Gambia’s Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has reinforced the two countries’ commitment to deepening cooperation in education reform and public sector development.
The Gambian delegation, led by Minister for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr Habibatou Drammeh, visited Ghana to study the country’s experiences in education governance, workforce management, digital transformation, accountability systems and evidence-based policymaking.
Welcoming the delegation, Ghana’s Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding access to quality education. He highlighted Ghana’s policy of providing free education from kindergarten through tertiary level and outlined the country’s education governance framework.
Mr Iddrisu explained that the Ministry of Education provides overall policy direction, while the Ghana Education Service (GES) is responsible for overseeing the implementation and management of basic and secondary education across the country.
The visit provided an opportunity for both countries to exchange ideas and explore areas of collaboration aimed at strengthening education delivery, improving public sector efficiency and enhancing learning outcomes.
The engagement also underscored the growing partnership between Ghana and The Gambia as both nations pursue reforms designed to build more effective, accountable and responsive education systems.
A key focus of the Minister’s presentation was Ghana’s renewed commitment to strengthening foundational education.
He stressed that building strong literacy and numeracy skills at the basic education level is essential to the long-term success of the country’s education system.
According to the Minister, although substantial investments have been made in secondary education over the years, the government’s current priority is to strengthen early childhood and basic education to provide learners with a solid academic foundation.
He noted that no education system can thrive without a strong foundation, adding that Ghana is investing in measures aimed at improving learning outcomes, enhancing teacher quality and expanding access to quality basic education nationwide.
The Minister also disclosed that the country is reviewing its curriculum to better align with emerging global trends. As part of the reforms, subjects such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), coding, robotics, financial literacy and collaborative learning are expected to be integrated into the school curriculum to equip students with skills needed for the future.
The Gambian delegation also lauded the Ghana Education Service for its School Report Card initiative and advanced digital monitoring systems, which provide real-time data on teacher attendance, school performance, infrastructure needs and learning outcomes.
According to the delegation, these innovations have enhanced accountability and provided policymakers with reliable data for decision-making and educational planning.
Dr Drammeh said Ghana’s approach aligns closely with reforms being pursued in The Gambia under a World Bank-funded Public Administration Modernization for Citizen-Centric Service Delivery Project, making the country’s experience particularly relevant to its development agenda.
