Ghana is set to host the Second High-Level Conference on Education in Emergency (ACCELERATE+) from September 29-30 at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra. The conference, organized by Associates for Change, a Ghana-based research think tank, aims to bring together policymakers, researchers, education practitioners, and development partners from West Africa and beyond. The event will focus on addressing the challenges of education in emergencies, particularly in the face of disasters and conflicts that disrupt access to education.
The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, emphasized the timeliness of the conference, citing the need for a dedicated emergency fund to support education during emergencies. He noted that the Ministry is committing part of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to respond to such emergencies, including the rehabilitation of school infrastructure following disasters. The conference will explore innovative digital education mechanisms and tools to support learning from kindergarten to junior high school.
The conference will focus on five key themes, including education in emergencies and resilient education systems, foundational learning, e-learning, inclusion, and educational innovation. Additionally, the event will address social protection, teacher well-being, and safe learning environments. Dr. Leslie Casely-Hayford, Director of Associates for Change, stressed the importance of innovative approaches to ensure that children affected by conflict and emergencies continue to have access to education.
The conference is being organized in partnership with the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA) in Nigeria and the Centre for Studies, Research and Training for Social and Economic Development (CERFODES) in Burkina Faso. The event aims to improve funding for education during emergencies and introduce innovative digital education mechanisms and tools to support learning.
Dr. Casely-Hayford noted that the conference is focused on West Africa due to the significant education challenges arising from conflicts in the subregion. She called for psychosocial support for teachers to prepare them for deployment to fragile and conflict-affected communities. The conference seeks to address the fundamental right to education for children affected by conflict, displacement, school closures, or the absence of teachers.
The Minister expressed hope that stakeholders from the subregion would commit to the conference's communique to improve funding for education during emergencies. He emphasized the need for a collaborative approach to address the challenges of education in emergencies. The conference will provide a platform for stakeholders to share experiences and best practices in addressing education in emergencies.
The ACCELERATE+ Conference is expected to contribute to the development of resilient education systems in West Africa, ensuring that children continue to have access to quality education despite emergencies and conflicts. The event will conclude with a communique outlining commitments from stakeholders to improve education in emergencies.
Key points
- Ghana hosts ACCELERATE+ Conference to address education in emergencies
- Conference focuses on five key themes, including education in emergencies and resilient education systems
- Stakeholders aim to improve funding for education during emergencies and introduce innovative digital education mechanisms
