![Citadel Foundation For Kids [CFK]](http://www.citadelfoundationforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/cropped-Screen-Shot-2016-02-09-at-7.00.43-PM.png)
More than a meme
4 year-old Jake Amo of Koforidua has taken the meme-world by storm after a picture of him went viral. And that’s pretty cool—even if Jake is unaware of it. The picture achieved fame shortly after being posted to Solomon Adufah’s Instagram account. Adufah, a native Ghanaian who’d been living in the US since he was 16, had been in Ghana in the summer of 2015 with his cameraman-friend to teach art and make a documentary. As he watched the meme hop around the digital social scene, he thought “what if all these ‘likes’ turned into actual funds to help?” That’s when he started a fundraising campaign to help pay for education for the children of Jake’s village. Within 24 hours, the campaign had already raised $2,000. Here’s to hoping the scholarship fund enjoys a similar fate as the meme that made it possible.
North needs help
The Executive Director of Community Development Alliance, Issifu Salifu Kanton, has said that Senior High School (SHS) education in Northern Ghana is approaching a “crisis level.” Kanton claimed that the problems in the Northern part of the country were the result of an asymmetry in the academic calendars of Ghana. In the Northern regions, Kanton says, the regular delay in feeding grants to cover the feeding expenses of students in the Northern, Upper East, and Upper East regions has resulted in students receiving one-third less time in the class room than peers in other regions. Naturally, Kanton called on the government to remedy the feeding delays, for their effects go beyond missing lunch.
Opoku-Agyemang in 2021
The 2016 election is rapidly approaching (December 7th), but some people are already thinking about 2021. Whether the rumors have any merit or not, there is chatter about the NDC putting current Minister of Education, Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, at the top of its ballot. While opinions on her certainly vary, it’s hard not to see this as a good thing for education. I mean, her education platform would at least be thoughtful and crafted on a career of experience in the sector—a welcome version from the ones that favor politics.
Opoku-Agyemang in 2016
Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has challenged stakeholders to do more than complain about the education system. If stakeholders want to improve the quality of education, they should act to improve it, she claimed. Furthermore, she said that the system is humming along just fine, despite what the dramatic rhetoric of myopic spectators might suggest. In support of recent progress, she cited the BECE scores of the top performers as well as the reduction in teacher absenteeism.
Books, books, books
World Vision Ghana has donated over 96,000 copies of assorted books to 100 primary schools in the Kintampo South District, providing materials for roughly 30,000 students. Kintampo South, unfortunately, is the poorest part of the Brong Ahafo Region, and reading among children in region is quite low. And this makes it especially nice to see aid going there.
Also…
The Ministry of Environment and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are in talks with the MoE and the GES to make the study of climate change a core subject at both the basic and SHS level.
The EU and AU are to strengthen their efforts to improve higher education in Africa.
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) calls for increased capital markets education…
…So, too, has the Upper West Regional Minister called for increased education on farming.
Mahama talks about progress in education under his administration and explains why they’ve given it so much attention.
The University of Ghana (UG) is set to start offering select diploma programs at some of its Regional Learning Centers.
The National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE), has announced a 3-day national summit to draft a National Vision and Plan for Tertiary Education. More details to come as they play out…
Ghanaian actress, Yvonne Nelson, is encouraging students to make the most of education: “education is a key in every aspect of our live. It prepares everyone for every endeavor.”