A functional literacy programme for children
In 1993 Dagbon Traditional Council forwarded a
request for outside assistance from the Danish Government to support an educational
programme with the aim of reducing child illiteracy.
In October1994 the Danish Government approved financial support to implement a programme
on child literacy to be undertaken from 1995 to 1998
It is the aim of the project to introduce, facilitate
and operate as many sustainable afternoon schools as possible for children between 8 and
12 years of age who do not otherwise receive primary schooling.
 Phase
3 has been approved !!
In Phase 1, 1995-1998, 10,500 children in 2 districts were given the opportunity to get basic education in reading, writing and
arithmetic.
In Phase 2, 1998-2003, 50,000 children i 8 districts were given the possibility
to get basic education in their mother tongue.
More than 60% of them continue in formal school.
In Phase 3, 2003-2008, another 48,000 children will get the same
opportunity, and School for Life will work for mainstreaming education
in rural areas.
See
a description of School for Life in a
pdf file
SfL
Literacy - Components and Values
School for Life is now being replicated by other NGOs and you can read
about the qualities that have convinced among others USAID that
it is a valuable educational organisation.
Read
an evaluation of School
for Life's qualities made by an
independent authority
The
self-help programme
GES is getting improved infrastructure through School for Life’s self-help
programme which supports the construction of school buildings and the acquisition of
school furniture also for the use of GES with 75% of the expences.
Radio
component
A new education tool is being used as GDCP's Radio Simli in Dalun produces school radio
programmes for the SFL classes
Relation
to Ghana Education
About 80 % of the graduates of School for Life continue in
the formal school, usually entering P2, P3 or P4. Their performance is
usually above the national average.
Four
Languages
SFL started with Dagbani and Likpakpaaln, but in Phase 2 Bassari and Anufo have been
added.
Organisation
" School for Life'' is an NGO established to
carry through the literacy programme Local SFL committees behind the individual literacy
class and facilitators are supported by a full time staff based in Tamale and in each
district where SfL operates.
A Board of Directors are responsible for the policies and strategies of School for Life
and negoriate directly with the SFL Board in Denmark which monitors the School for Life programme and are
responsible to Danida for the utilisation of the funds. |
