This is the final installment of our 3-part series on the education system in Ghana, and the goals of The Move Project Academy.
In Part 2 of the blog series we outlined how the education system is structured in Ghana.
Mission of TMP Academy
TMP Academy exists to develop, encourage, and prepare children to advance through the academic system in Ghana, and so graduates process the knowledge and skills to be successful in the next stage of their lives.
The Academy aspires to be a model of educational excellence in Ghana.
Our initial offering will be Creche through Primary (Pre-K through 6th Grade) and the class sizes will be limited to 20 children per classroom for the Primary grade levels. This will help ensure we launch successfully, learn quickly, and give ourselves the ability to adapt wherever necessary. We desire to provide as much access to education for the community and we firmly believe we must act in a way that provides tangible the children and their families.
When we officially partnered with Tsipasi three years ago, education was second on their list of most pressing needs. Second only to water. We have spent the last year fundraising, building, planning educational structures of the Academy, and preparing the community for what to expect when education becomes available through TMP Academy.
The community members are all in. They've dreamed of this day and it's finally here!
We will be launching with Primary school but the vision doesn't stop there. We know there is, and will continue to be, a need for Secondary education. This need will naturally grow as the children begin to progress successfully through Primary grades at TMP Academy.
Secondary School Challenges
- Secondary schools are typically only located in larger towns and cities, making access difficult for rural villages like Tsipasi.
- If children pass Primary school, they must test into secondary school.
- If the child passes admittance testing, Secondary education comes at a cost by way of increased tuition fees, travel expenses, or boarding fees.
- Because secondary schools are spread out geographically, most also serve as boarding schools as well.
TMP Academy Secondary School
Our vision is to build a secondary school as part of TMP Acacademy in Tsipasi. This will accomplish a few things.
- Provide local secondary education to Tsipasi children and surrounding villages
- Increase access to secondary education by having a local option, thus decrease the overall expense (no travel or boarding)
- Generate more jobs for the adults in the area
- Generate more income through the local economy
English Classes & Skills Training
TMP Academy will also be used to facilitate job skills training, various workshops, and English classes for adults. The lack of job opportunities is a problem in Tsipasi and it's right behind education on the list.
Tsipasi is in a rural setting and farming is the main source of income. While farming is a full-time job for the men, it isn't for the Women. We've been discussing with them what other opportunities we could make available. This is where the English classes and job skills training come in at TMP Academy.
Our first training will be in soap making. This training will not only provide a starter kit of supplies to get going, but will also provide them with the knowledge of soap making process so they can begin selling their soap products in the market which is in high demand. Following the training will be a small business workshop to ensure they have the ability to not only create a small business but run it effectively to help bring sustainable income to their families.
As we've touched on before, the common language in the marketplace is English because people are coming together from various villages and Regions. English classes for adults will also be held at the Academy to provide them with the ability to successfully navigate the selling of goods and crops for themselves in the markets rather than solely relying on a wholesaler.
There are significant opportunities for the farmers of Tsipasi to increase their income if they can sell directly in the markets, and you need to be able to speak English to have the largest reach.
Here's Where You Come In
We can't do any of this work without generous supporters like you.
Nearly 100% of our funding comes from individual donors. Would you consider making a donation of any size to help sustain the work and vision of The Move Project? You can give a secure, tax-deductible gift right on our website, and join hands in the work we're doing in Ghana.