Ghana Launches 2026–2040 Foundational Learning Agenda to Improve Education Outcomes

Story by: Regina Bless

Ghana has launched a new 15-year educational reform initiative, known as the Flagship Foundational Learning Agenda (2026–2040), aimed at improving the quality of education and ensuring that children acquire essential learning skills from an early age.

The initiative was launched following a meeting involving Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, education stakeholders, teachers and development partners.

The agenda seeks to address the gap between access to education and actual learning outcomes. Although Ghana has made progress in getting more children into school, concerns remain about whether pupils are acquiring the basic skills they need to succeed academically.

Foundational learning focuses on essential skills such as reading, writing, mathematics, understanding concepts and problem-solving. These skills form the basis for a child’s future educational development.

Speaking on the importance of the initiative, the Vice President emphasised the need to build on existing educational programmes that have produced results, avoid unnecessary duplication and strengthen coordination among institutions responsible for education.

She also highlighted the importance of monitoring learning outcomes and making adjustments where necessary to ensure that the initiative achieves its objectives.

Another key area of focus is the use of local languages in early education. The agenda recognises that children can understand concepts and express themselves more confidently when learning is supported by languages they are familiar with.

The initiative also connects education to Ghana’s broader economic development goals. According to the Vice President, building an economy that produces more goods, adds value to local resources and creates sustainable employment requires a workforce equipped with critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving skills.

The 15-year agenda will therefore require sustained commitment from government, teachers, parents, communities and development partners to ensure that improvements in foundational learning are maintained over time.

Ultimately, the success of the initiative will depend not simply on how many children attend school, but on how much they actually learn and how effectively they can apply that knowledge in everyday life.