Ghana/U.S. Curriculum Translation

*Assuming English is at a Novice Mid to Novice High Level

Ghana Education System

School Year: August to May | Compulsory Education: 1st-9th | Graduation: 1st – 12th

Ghana/U.S. Grading Scale

Ghana Transition Supports

Ghana Education Practice:

In Ghana, significant problems persist in the form of critical shortages of trained teachers, classroom facilities, and learning materials, particularly in rural regions. The recent introduction of free secondary education was an attempt to curb high dropout rates in Ghana’s schools. A reported 100,000 children do not transition from basic to secondary education each year because their parents cannot afford the costs. Furthermore, literacy standards and learning outcomes often remain poor, despite increased enrollment rates in recent years. About 70 percent of high school students, for instance, failed the final senior secondary West African Examination Council exams in 2014. In addition, gender inequalities and disparities in access to education between rural and urban regions are severe (Kamran, Liang and Trines 2019).

U.S. Educator Implications:
Students from Ghana may have significant academic gaps due to their transitioning education system. It will be important to determine an accurate educational history to best support students. In addition to academic supports, students from Ghana need a holistic approach where social and emotional factors are considered. Connecting students and families to community resources may assist in their transition and provide access to much-needed supports. Discussing concerns with your school counselor may be a pivotal first step.

Strategies for Transition

• Get to know your students by building positive relationships.
• Provide multicultural education where texts, values, beliefs, and perspectives represent people from different cultural backgrounds.
• Allow a reasonable amount of transition time.
• In 2017, government nationals made historic changes that required teachers to become certified and provided free education for all. Despite this great step forward, these practices have been slow to take place; therefore, you may have students who have significant gaps in education due to financial barriers and/or poor academic history due to underqualified educators. Providing intervention resources will be critical in filling any academic gaps (Kamran, Liang and Trines 2019).
• Understand that girls may be extremely vulnerable and have a higher risk of having minimal to no educational experience. Provide or coordinate additional support and resources to aid the student in his or her social, emotional, and academic needs (Kamran, Liang and Trines 2019).
• Encourage gender equality for all students (Kamran, Liang and Trines 2019).
• Provide opportunities that encourage student voice (Kamran, Liang and Trines 2019).
• Because of the difference in gender roles, adjustment to American culture is often difficult for Ghanaian immigrant families. Consider providing curriculum that promotes gender equality and non-traditional gender roles (Kamran, Liang and Trines 2019).