Schools in Ghanaian communities lack reading materials — JustED
In a preliminary assessment, the JustED education foundation found low literacy levels in several communities in Ghana despite educational programmes implemented over the years. In the communities of Achinakrom and Donyina in the Ashanti Region and Akurafu in the Western North Region, school enrolment among children is high, but access to reading materials remains a significant problem, MyJoyOnline reports.
Lack of libraries and materials
According to the assessment, pupils at Donyina M/A and Akurafu M/A primary schools do not have access to libraries. Teachers also lack the reading materials needed to teach children.
JustED noted that limited opportunities to interact with books outside lessons raise questions about how schoolchildren can develop a reading habit. The foundation's founder and executive director, Sabina Mensah, stressed that solving the literacy problem requires the involvement of all stakeholders.
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Support for pupils and teachers
Mensah said literacy should not be viewed as an isolated skill, as it is linked to issues of health, finances, the environment and community life. According to her, reading difficulties may be combined with financial problems in the family, household duties or challenges related to menstrual health.
The foundation introduced the JustED Scholars Club, a model of ongoing support under which pupils are offered structured learning to supplement the school curriculum. The organisation also recruits willing teachers from different communities for training in methods of developing reading skills.
According to UNESCO, 42% of primary school pupils worldwide do not achieve minimum reading proficiency, while 225 million young people and adults in sub-Saharan Africa lack basic literacy skills. On 8 September 2026, the 60th International Literacy Day will be observed under the theme “Literacy for People, Planet and Prosperity”.
