GHA141 Reading and writing education for children
project description
Dagomba children from the north of Ghana grow up with the local language Dagbani, even though classes in school are only taught in English. The organisation Literacy and Development through Partnership (LDP) helps these children by organising native language education for the Dagomba. LDP trains local teachers to become language coaches and tells parents about the importance of language education. Because those who are educated, have more chances of breaking the vicious circle of poverty.
why this project?
Even though Ghana is a country where the economic development thrives, there is great inequality in the country. Especially in the north there is much poverty. Even though the educational policy in Ghana has a positive attitude towards children starting education in their own language and after that learning English as a second language, usually only English is used from the first day of school. As a result, children from minority language groups are taught in a language they do not speak and because of that they are disadvantaged and do not have equal access to education.Even though Ghana is a country where the economic development thrives, there is great inequality in the country. Especially in the north there is much poverty. Even though the educational policy in Ghana has a positive attitude towards children starting education in their own language and after that learning English as a second language, usually only English is used from the first day of school. As a result, children from minority language groups are taught in a language they do not speak and because of that they are disadvantaged and do not have equal access to education.
impact
Because children read and write in their own language and consequently learn the national language more easily, these children have a chance to improve their future and to escape from the poverty. The desire is that there will be changes in the lives of the Dagomba. Not only by improving the quality of education, but also because children and adults, if they can read and write in their own language, can start reading the Word of God on their own.
what can we learn?
The training and educating of two different groups of teachers: volunteers from the region who speak the language and a few teachers who work at the village schools from the government, is an important activity. They are motivated and trained to teach in reading and writing in Dagbani. Besides the training of teachers, reading and writing materials are developed to use in classes. It is also important that parents and leaders of the community are convinced of the importance of native language education. By workshops with the parents they are convinced of this.
