Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang launches 15-year Foundational Learning Agenda

Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has launched the Flagship Foundational Learning Agenda (2026–2040), a 15-year roadmap designed to transform literacy and numeracy for children aged four to eight. The initiative seeks to ensure that every child in Ghana can read, write, and count fluently, addressing long-standing gaps in the basic education system. Speaking at the launch, the Vice President emphasized that simply attending school is insufficient if students do not acquire these core competencies early in their development, noting that foundational learning is the bedrock of future educational success.

The programme sets a critical target for 2030 to achieve significant improvements in foundational literacy, numeracy, and psychosocial development across all demographics. A major component of the agenda involves comprehensive curriculum revisions that will prioritize Ghanaian languages as the medium of instruction for early learners. This shift aims to make learning more accessible and culturally relevant, ensuring that children build a strong cognitive foundation and reduce existing inequalities in educational outcomes between different regions and social groups.

The agenda will be implemented across public and low-fee private schools to ensure broad coverage. Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu noted that the programme will undergo a pilot phase to test its effectiveness before a wider nationwide rollout, which remains subject to Cabinet approval. The initiative has already garnered support from various stakeholders, including educators, families, and international partners such as the British government, reflecting a collaborative approach to improving the country's basic education framework.

Vice President Opoku-Agyemang linked the success of this educational framework directly to Ghana’s long-term economic development. By investing in the early psychosocial and academic development of children, the government intends to build a more productive workforce and a more equitable society. The 2026–2040 timeline provides a consistent framework for the state to monitor progress and ensure that essential skill acquisition becomes a guaranteed outcome for every young learner in the country.