Strategy
Plan Ghana is working to improve children's access to quality, basic education
Plan’s strategy in Ghana works to ensure that all children, especially those from rural and impoverished parts of the country, access their rights and have a say in their own development.
The crucial issue affecting the development of children in Ghana is poor quality education. In order to tackle this, the underlying causes need to be addressed, including childhood diseases, high prevalence of HIV and AIDS, poor water and sanitation, food insecurity, low income for families and child rights abuse.
Key goals
Plan Ghana has identified 4 strategic priorities to improve children’s lives:
- quality, basic education for all children
- better health for all children
- food security for all children
- awareness of children’s rights and responsibilities.
Progress
Plan Ghana has made significant progress since the inception of the current strategic plan in 2002. In the areas where Plan works, monitoring results indicate a 30% improvement in mathematics and English, school enrolment rates have increased from 60% to 95% (2004-2008), and 3,500 students have benefited from Plan’s scholarship scheme for secondary, vocational and tertiary education.
Malnutrition among preschool children has reduced from 34% (2003) to 17% (2008), while coverage of full immunisation among children has increased from 47% (2003) to 82% (2008). More households now have insecticide-treated nets to help prevent malaria and access to drinking water and sanitation.
Plan’s Child Centred Community Development approach ensures that children and youths are involved in community development processes and participate in decision making. We have helped form and train 192 child rights clubs and also run programmes that help children to speak out through radio and other media about issues affecting their lives.
The Universal Birth Registration campaign set up by Plan has also seen registrations increase from 17% (2003) to 62% (2008). A birth certificate provides children with easier access to health and education services, as well as protection from child trafficking and child labour.
