E4L MEDIA REVIEW MEETING, 22/08/2014

By: C&AO, School for Life

The Empowerment for Life (E4L) Programme holds regular media review meetings with media men in Tamale to brief the media outlets on emerging developments in Programme activities and pertinent advocacy issues that can be taken up by the media to make the most impact in target communities.

In today’s session, the education component of the E4L Programme implemented by School for Life, focused on the Ghana CBE Programme. The first cycle of the Programme, which started on a nation-wide scale last year has just ended with Implementing Partners strategizing towards ensuring that all learners graduated are integrated into formal schools.

Deputy Manager for Advocacy and Gender, Lawrencia Dakurah-Abakisi, stressing a point during the meeting

School for Life pointed out that the major advocacy issue in respect of graduated learners from the first cycle, is to get District Assemblies and the District Directorate of GES to make commitments in ensuring integration of the learners, especially those coming from communities without formal schools.

Media Representative from Viasat 1 seeking clarifications

While efforts are being made to achieve 100 percent integration of learners from the first cycle, preparations are on going for start of CBE classes in the second year of the Programme. Community animations and sensitization are currently under way in all Programme communities to identify potential facilitators and to site CBE classes.

Meanwhile, the Ghana CBE Programme Management Unit is currently organizing training for key staff of Implementing Partners, for improved implementation of the programme in the second year. It is expected that concerted efforts will be made towards enhancing working collaboration with District Assemblies, Ghana Education Service, Media Houses and Implementing Partners will result in improved delivery of CBE. Importantly, there is the need for advocacy efforts to be made towards ensuring that the Government of Ghana backs the CBE Policy with legal instrument and make budgetary allocation to CBE implementation in the country. This will ultimately contribute to Ghana’s efforts towards achieving MDG 2, Universal Primary Education and Education for All.