Education Minister Urges Evidence-Based Solutions to Learning Crisis in West Africa

The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, highlighted the urgent need for data-driven approaches to fix the region’s learning crisis during a high-level policy workshop on Tuesday. Citing poor learning outcomes in primary and secondary schools, he stressed that decisions on educational investments must be anchored in solid evidence rather than assumptions, calling on researchers and development partners to prioritise accountability and measurable impact.

This call comes at a critical time when Ghana and other West African nations are grappling with learning poverty – where children struggle to read or comprehend simple text by age 10. Iddrisu referenced regional research showing staggering learning gaps, urging governments to channel resources into proven interventions like teacher training and foundational literacy programmes. His remarks reflect longstanding concerns about the continent’s education quality, echoing earlier calls from bodies like the West African Examination Council to overhaul curricula and assessment systems.

Industry experts support this stance, noting that evidence-based planning can help bridge gaps in school infrastructure and teacher deployment, especially in rural areas like the Northern and Upper Regions where learning setbacks are most acute. The minister’s emphasis on collaboration signals a shift toward pragmatic governance, aligning with Ghana’s own Education Sector Plan 2022-2031, which prioritises data-driven progress.

Looking ahead, stakeholders anticipate concrete policy shifts in the coming months, with calls for increased investment in digital learning tools and teacher development. Iddrisu’s message underscores a broader push across Africa to treat education as a rights issue demanding rigorous, solutions-focused analysis.