The Member of Parliament for Tamale North, Alhassan Suhuyini has underscored the urgent need to empower rural communities in Ghana to support the education and development of pre-school children.
Emphasizing the global crisis in Early Childhood Education (ECE), Mr Suhuyini highlighted that over 250 million children under the age of five, predominantly reside in rural areas of the global south.
In a statement on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, February 22, 2023, he shed light on the critical issue plaguing rural communities, which is the lack of access to quality early childhood education.
“There is a global Early Childhood Education crisis, and over 250 million children under five – most of whom are located in rural communities in the global south- do not have access to adequate education and care leading to poor health, poor education, child marriage, lost life opportunities and poverty. As representatives of our nation, we must ensure that every child, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to reach their full potential.”
Suhuyini commended Ghana’s constitutional commitment to Free and Compulsory Universal Basic Education (fCUBE), which includes two years of pre-primary education (Kindergarten). He also acknowledged the endorsement of the Early Childhood Education Policy Framework by the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service in 2020 which aims to prepare children holistically for primary school.
“In 2008, the country included two years of pre-primary education (Kindergarten) as part of its constitutional commitment to Free and Compulsory Universal Basic Education (fCUBE) and as part of strengthening the Early Childhood Education sub-system, the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service has facilitated the approval of the ECE Policy Framework and endorsed by the cabinet in 2020. This was to prepare children in readiness for primary school, and to develop holistically, their physical, social, emotional, intellectual needs to build a broad and solid foundation for their wellbeing.”
The MP urged the government to ensure the availability of kindergarten spaces for all children, engage families and communities to provide learning opportunities at home and collaborate strategically with stakeholders to implement the ECE Policy Framework nationwide.
“It is no secret that due to budgetary constraints and others, education at all levels and in most parts of the country is bedevilled by many challenges. However, it’s worse and unique in rural communities especially when it comes to Early Childhood Education. Limited access to quality preschool spaces and programs, lack of resources, and poverty all hinder the rural child’s development during these critical years”
Suhuyini praised the efforts of organizations like Lively Minds, which operates in 2,624 rural communities in Ghana to promote ECE. He commended the government’s adoption of the “GES Lively Minds Programme,” which empowers parents despite their poverty and limited education to support their children’s development.
“One way to empower rural communities is by providing them with the necessary resources and support to establish high-quality preschool programs. By investing in early childhood education, we can help children develop essential skills that will set them up for success in school and beyond.”
“Another important aspect of empowering rural communities is involving parents and caregivers in their children’s education. By providing training and support to parents, we can ensure that they have the knowledge and tools to create a nurturing and stimulating environment for their children at home.”
“Mr Speaker this is where I wish to introduce to members and commend highly the efforts of an organization, Lively Minds, an NGO doing amazing work in about 2624 rural communities in Ghana to promote early childhood education. This initiative has been adopted by the government of Ghana and has been dubbed the “GES Lively Minds Programme.” This approach aims to shift the mindsets and behaviours of parents so they realise that despite their poverty and limited education they have the power and the means to make a change.”
The MP called for continued collaboration between the government, local organizations like Lively Minds, and community leaders to implement targeted interventions in rural communities. He emphasized that investing in early childhood education is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic investment in the nation’s future.
“93% of parents in their programme have less than 2 years of primary education. I have had the opportunity to visit some of their operational areas and the community volunteers are not paid for their work on the programme, nor are they provided with materials or infrastructure but their dedication to bring about significant and wide-ranging improvements in their children’s development is admirable. They use basic teaching learning resources created by themselves using materials mostly picked from their environment.”
“I am convinced that our government must continue to collaborate with local organizations such as Lively Minds and community leaders to address the specific education needs of our rural communities. By working together, we can implement targeted interventions that will benefit both children and their families.”
Suhuyini urged Parliament not to overlook the challenges faced by rural communities but to stand united in their commitment to creating a brighter future for all children.
“Empowering rural communities to help their preschool children thrive is not just a moral imperative – it is also an investment in the future of our nation. By working together and taking decisive action, we can ensure that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential. Let us not turn a blind eye to the challenges faced by rural communities, but instead, let us stand united in our commitment to creating a brighter future for all.