The Complementary Education Agency (CEA), referring to a UNESCO data, has indicated that about ten million out of the total 30 million plus Ghanaian population who are supposed to have been in school do not have formal education because of diverse reasons.
Mrs. Catherine Agyapomaah Appiah Apinkrah, Director of CEA, who disclosed this at the International Literacy day 2024 celebration at Jachie in the Ashanti region, stated that education is a right of children yet about 1.4 million between 8 and 16 years who are supposed to be in school are out of school with different reasons while over 4.5 million between the ages of 18 and 45 years were out of school.
The Complementary Education Agency (CEA) in collaboration with the United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) celebrated the 57th International Literacy Day 2024 to raise awareness of the detriment of literacy on individual and national socioeconomic development.
Theme for this year’s celebration is “Promoting Multilingual Education: Literacy for Mutual Understanding and Peace,” however, the country related theme is “Celebrating Multilingual Literacy through Digitalization to Promote Peace.”
She disclosed that while about 200 countries in the world have about 7000 languages and Ghana, with a little over 30 million population has 80 recognized languages and urged Ghanaians to use their first language in teaching children. She said that will help them understand better, adding that it is the reason why CEA is using community-based languages, with the support of UNESCO because they cannot use only Twi and English to teach.
She disclosed that UNESCO and CEA realise that there are different people with different languages, yet are one people and for that matter must embrace one another as one people with the same destiny, irrespective of tribes.
Dr. Osei Yaw Adutwum, the Minister for Education and Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe, also touted the achievements of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in education.
According to him, the government has done tremendously well and disclosed that the government improved literacy, enhanced the work of the Complementary Education Agency (CEA) and built schools across the country.
He appealed to other Members of Parliament to help improve education in their various constituencies with infrastructural development and other teaching and learning logistics.
He noted that the government is building a nation where about 90% of the citizens are going to be literates, as most of them who did not have the opportunity to get formal education are now interested in being bilingual and multilingual.
The Minister disclosed that plans are ahead to establish an adult school at Jachie, in the Ashanti region, and urged Ghanaians to support the government to change the fortunes of the country through the prioritisation of education.
