Ghana and Nigeria have committed to a formal partnership aimed at returning millions of out-of-school children to the classroom. Following a high-level diplomatic visit to Ghana from February 2–6, the two nations announced plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish an ongoing knowledge exchange focused on accelerated learning strategies
The exchange, facilitated by the UK government through the British High Commissions in Accra and Abuja, seeks to replicate the success of Ghana’s Complementary Basic Education (CBE) program. This initiative has achieved a remarkable 90% success rate in transitioning graduates back into formal schooling.
The Nigerian delegation, which included representatives from the Federal Ministry of Education and officials from Kaduna and Kano states, spent a week observing Ghana’s CBE program in action within the Northern Region. The program serves as a nine-month “catch-up” cycle designed for children aged 8–16 who have missed out on early schooling. By focusing on core literacy and numeracy skills taught in local languages, the model provides a streamlined path back to the classroom at a highly cost-effective rate of approximately $100 USD per child.
Hon. Daniel Kwesi Ashiamah, Executive Director of Ghana’s Complementary Education Agency (CEA), emphasized that the Ghanaian child is at the center of the Ministry of Education’s policies. He noted that while the program was previously dependent on donor funding, the Government of Ghana now finances the initiative directly, currently supporting 10,000 learners across 12 districts in four regions.
The partnership comes at a critical time for Nigeria, which faces one of the world’s largest out-of-school populations. With UNICEF estimating that 18.3 million Nigerian children are currently not in education, addressing this gap is now central to Nigeria’s Education Sector Reform Initiative. Dr. Sani Idriss, Executive Director of Nigeria’s National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSCE), highlighted that the synergy between Ghana’s national, regional, and municipal authorities was a primary takeaway for the visiting team.
Dr. Idriss stated that the unity observed in Ghana, particularly regarding community engagement and flexible learning models, provides renewed encouragement for Nigeria’s efforts. He noted that these lessons will strengthen the Nigerian approach to the Almajiri and out-of-school children challenge, leading to more positive long-term outcomes for the nation’s youth.
The success of the shared strategy relies on several core pillars, including strong community leadership, a targeted curriculum for accelerated learning, small class sizes, and the use of child-centered pedagogy. Both delegations agreed on the importance of integrating these programs directly into existing government systems to ensure that children are not just educated temporarily, but are successfully mainstreamed and tracked over time.
This collaboration was supported by the British Council and UK-funded education programs, including PLANE and the What Works Hub for Global Education. The partnership reflects a broader commitment to breaking down barriers to opportunity and ensures that both countries can adapt these successful models to their unique local contexts.