National Advisory Board replaces National Implementation Committee

Accra (Greater Accra) 16 Feb '99

The National Implementation Committee (NIC) of Non-Formal Education Division (NFED) of Ministry of Education is being replaced by a National Advisory Board on Literacy. This follows the demise of the NIC which was to ensure the harmonisation of resources for all non-formal education-related programmes for the successful eradication of illiteracy. Mr Andrews Asare Akuoko, acting Director the NFED, who announced this today at a meeting with stakeholders of the programme said the board could also serve as the working group for the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA). "The NIC could not stand the test of time and, therefore, its meetings which used to be consistent gradually waned till it could no more meet." The advisory board would, therefore, assume the responsibilities of the NIC and, in addition, advice the government on literacy policies. On having an international dimension, Mr Akuoko said, Ghana as a member of ADEA is obliged to form a working group as a contact agency for the association. The board will comprise representatives of government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and individuals interested in functional literacy. The National Functional Literacy Programme was launched in 1991 with the aim of making about 5.6 million illiterate Ghanaians and 2.5 million school drop-outs literate over a five-year period. The first phase of the programme jointly sponsored by the government of Ghana and the World Bank ended in December 1997. Over the period about 900,000 out of an initial 1.3 million people benefited. Preparations are underway to launch the second phase this year. The learners were made functionally literate in 15 Ghanaian languages and numeracy, equipped with occupational skills and to appreciate issues such as family planning, nutrition, sanitation and AIDS.