By Bawanke David
Improving Learning outcomes of primary school pupils in Oti Region through community participation Oti Regional Education Directorate, under the leadership of Nana Kugbeadzor Bakateyi II, held its 3rd Regional Education Forum, in collaboration with the JICA Community Participation for Sustainable School for All (COMPASS) Project on Thursday, 30th August, 2023 under the theme “Improving Learning Outcomes of Primary School Pupils in Oti Region through Community Participation”.
The forum was a diverse assembly of stakeholders, spanning officials from the Ghana Education Service (GES) Headquarters, Regional Education officials, Directors of Education, Municipal/District Chief Executives, Chairpersons of Social Services Committees of the District Assemblies, as well as SMC Federation representatives.
This year’s forum was organized to achieve three key objects; to review the progress of the activities planned in the previous forum, to examine the plans of valued stakeholders, and to deliberate on the forthcoming activities and
follow-up plans for 2024.
The spotlight also shone on a series of presentations highlighting the remarkable strides made by School Management Structures (SMSs) and School Management
Committee (SMC) Federations under the transformative Community Participation for
Sustainable School for All (COMPASS) Project.
In her welcome address, Nana Kugbeadzor-Bakateyi II, the Oti Regional Director of Education, who doubles as the Dean for Conference of Regional Directors of Education (CONREDE) Ghana, extended a warm welcome, labeling participants “pioneers of change” and acknowledging their unwavering commitment.
She further extended gratitude to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) COMPASS Project Implementation Team, hailed as pivotal partners in shaping the region’s educational landscape.
Nana highlighted the incredible progress made since the previous forum, “By dint of hard work, the percentage of pupils who met the minimum proficiency level was improved by 34.8 % points against the baseline assessment, pushing our regional performance to 65.3%, representing additional 7,470 pupils achieving minimum proficiency level in mathematics.” she said.
This, according to her, was a testament to the united efforts of stakeholders.
JICA Team Lead by Yakahama, expressed delight in the partnership’s achievements
and looked ahead with optimism. He lauded Oti Region’s swift adoption of the COMPASS Project, commending the potential for sustainable success.
Notably, Districts boasting thriving SMCs in other regions were cited for their noteworthy accomplishments.
The Regional Minister, through his representative, underscored the importance of strong stakeholder collaboration and support in delivering quality education. He commended stakeholders for the remarkable achievements under the JICA COMPASS Project and encouraged MDCEs to support SMCs and Federations in their respective districts more.
From the implementation assessment reports, the region performed creditably under well-functioning SMCs, Remedial Activities and PLC with Community.
Nkwanta North district came tops in the district performance league.
With over 100 stakeholders representing 29 SMC Federations, Municipal/District Chief Executives, Social Services Committee Chairpersons, and Education Directors, the forum reverberated with vibrant discussions.
A prevailing resolution emerged: stakeholders pledged to steadfastly advance their commitment to improving learners’ outcomes through the COMPASS initiative and other programs.
As curtains fell on the event, a resounding message emerged: Oti Region’s 3rd JICA COMPASS Regional Education Forum etched an indelible chapter in the region’s educational narrative. With unity, passion, and strategic vision, the trajectory toward improved learning outcomes for young learners has never been brighter.