Fact sheet 2011 EDUCATION
Ghana Context West Africa Although there have been signs of growing stability in some parts of West Africa, the social and political situation in several countries remains fragile. The growth of population movements in West Africa has been exacerbated by recurrent natural disasters (floods and drought), protracted refugee situations and chronic poverty. In total, there are more than 850,000 people of concern to UNHCR in the subregion, including some 149,000 refugees and 520,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs). More than 13,600 refugees live in Ghana, mostly in semi-rural areas. UNHCR aims to build national protection capacity and promote livelihoods activities to empower them. As part of its exit strategy, the Office will also seek to ensure that refugees are included in development programmes. Ghana Total people of concern: 14,577 refugees and asylum seekers Main origin of refugees: Liberia, Togo, Sudan, Sierra Leone Implementing partners: National Media Commission, Ghana Education Service, Ghana Health Service and Ghana Police Service Education program setting: Urban (Accra) and camps Overall education needs budget 2012: Refugees and asylum seekers in urban areas: USD 387,860 Refugees in rural areas: USD 471,142
Situation of refugee education in urban settings Enrolment in primary education in %
Enrolment in secondary education in %
Absolute numbers in parentheses
Absolute numbers in parentheses
Female n/a n/a 40% (8) 40% (10)
2007 2008 2009 2010
Male n/a n/a 13% (2) 50% (5)
Female 2% (1) 4% (2) 11% (2) 21% (12)
Male 2% (1) 2% (1) 12% (2) 39% (39)
Children with specific needs 2 out of 3 girls with specific needs were enrolled in primary school in 2010. No boy with specific needs had been identified in 2010.
45 42 40 35 35
Enrolment in tertiary education
42 80
35
30 Female
25 20
14
15 10
Male 10
11 2
5 0
Number of students
Number of students
Enrolment of refugee youth in training
70
65 76
60
48
50
57
52
40 30 20 10 0
2007
2008
2009
2010
2006
1
2007
2008
2009
2010
Objectives Assure access of refugee children to universal primary education, secondary and tertiary education Enhance job opportunities for refugees
• •
Situation of refugee education in camps Enrolment rate in primary and secondary education
Enrolment of children with specific needs in primary education Absolute numbers in parentheses
78%
80%
100%
87%
78% 79%
(4)
60%
Female
40%
Male
% of children
100%
20%
2008
2009
Secondary
Primary
Secondary
Primary
Secondary
Primary
0%
(3)
80%
(6)
60%
% Female % Male
40% 20%
(6)
(3)
(8)
0%
2010
2008
2009
2010
Enrolment of refugee youth in training 100%
Number of students per teacher 13 18 16
80% 80%
60%
Female
2008 2009 2010
Male
40% 20% 4% 1%
7% 4%
2008
2009
30%
Presence of a local education committee with implementing partner/government participation Yes No Yes
0% 2010
Teacher gender parity
Percentage of refugee teachers
100%
100%
80% 73%
76%
64%
64%
61%
60%
Male teachers Female teachers
40%
20%
36% 27%
36%
7%
8% 38%
80%
% of teachers
% of teachers
•
% of children
•
Challenges Outreach activities and monitoring are difficult as refugees and asylum seekers often live dispersed Many refugee children have dropped out of school and do not receive assistance until they have reported to UNHCR or the implementing partners Economic difficulties of refugee parents are a reason for the high drop out
% of youth
•
39%
38%
46%
60% 93%
Local teachers 91%
Refugee teachers
40% 62%
62%
54%
2008
2009
2010
20%
24%
0%
0% 2006
2007
2008
2009
2006
2010
2
2007
Challenges • • • • • • • •
Objectives
High dropout rate, especially in secondary school Most of the schools are privately owned and are costly More than 3,000 children in private schools do not receive quality education Most teachers in the private schools are not professional teachers and have inadequate teaching and learning materials due to limited funding Schools in the settlements do not meet the Ghanaian education service standards Very few refugees can afford secondary education and not many who qualify for tertiary education are able to afford the fees Refugee children do not speak English, the language of instruction in Ghana Lack of funding for post secondary and tertiary education
UNHCR Education Unit, Geneva 2011
3
•
• •
Upgrade the refugee owned schools to meet national standards by transferring responsibility of supervision of these schools to the Ghanaian education service Assure access of refugee children to universal primary education, secondary and tertiary education Enhance job opportunities of refugees Overall education needs budget 2012: USD 859 000
50%
UNHCR approved budget 50%