MAKING GHANAian GIRLS GREAT! Ghana’s first interactive distance learning project
USING Using CUTTING cuttinG EDGETECHNOLOGY technology EDGE and MULTIMEDIA multimedia AND contentTO toDELIVER deliver CONTENT qualityTEACHING teaching QUALITY Supported by the Department for International Supported byand the Department Development implemented for International Development by Varkey Foundation, and implemented by GEMS Educathis innovative project aims tion Solutions, this innovative proto transform thethe livelive of of girls ject aims to transform inGhana Ghanathrough throughinteractive, interactive, girls in activity based learning where activity based learning where wewe employ pedagogicalbest bestpractice practice employ pedagogical to ofof Ghana’s most toreach reachsome some Ghana’s most underserved underservedchildren. children.
Making Ghanaian Girls Great! (MGCubed) is Ghana’s first interactive distance-learning project. MGCubed uses cutting edge technology and multimedia content to deliver quality teaching to thousands of students in deprived schools in Ghana. MGCubed aims to address the challenges of teacher quality, teacher absenteeism and poor student learning. The project sets up two classrooms in 72 Ghana Education Service Primary schools, outfitted with solar-powered computers and projectors, so that real-time two-way interactive distance learning in basic Maths and English can occur for participating students, especially focusing on young girls aged seven to16 living in deprived communities.
HOW MGCUBED WORKS
How MGCUBED WORKS
PRIMARY COMPONENTS 1
In school classes English Language and Maths daily for 1 hour each
All MGCubed students were selected based on the following criteria: • Students are overage for their grade; • Students have previously missed schooling; • Students live 30 minutes or more from their school, and students have four or more siblings in their household. The baseline research conducted in December 2013 confirmed that students in our schools are on average more than two years older than the standard grade age expected, with 43% of sampled students reporting they had repeated a school grade year, and 13% reporting they had already missed an entire year of schooling in the past. Our programme has two primary components:
2 Wonder Women after-school classes Gender sensitive training for in school and out of school girls from the local communities.
In school classes – English Language and Maths daily for one hour each; and Wonder Women after-school classes – Gender sensitive training for in school and out of school girls from the local communities Each MGCubed classroom is equipped with a technology package, which includes a computer, projector, satellite modem and solar panels to provide reliable power. Our MGCubed studio in Accra will use the interactive distance learning platform to deliver both formal inschool teaching, and informal after-school training. For two hours of each school day, MGCubed will deliver lessons in English Language and Maths to classes of 40 selected girls and boys.
In School PRIMARY OBJECTIVE MGCubed’s primary objective is to improve access for young girls in deprived communities so that they can receive increased and improved instructional time through our remote interactive learning system. From our modern studio with two teaching rooms built in, the students will receive remedial instruction in English Language and Maths to aid completion of their basic schooling and further their progression into secondary education. By providing classrooms in 72 schools with solar-powered computers and projectors, we are able to broadcast live sessions from our Accra teaching studios directly into the classrooms where the students are able to directly interact with the teachers as well as with students in the other communities.
After School WONDER WOMEN! One of the most exciting components to the MGCubed program is our wonder women sessions, which will invite up to 10 out-of-school girls to join the 40 in-school girls for an afternoon Girls’ Club. Research has shown that children respond positively to strong role models. Our goal with Wonder Women is to inspire girls and boost their confidence by showing them that there are women in Ghana from similar backgrounds to themselves who work in every profession, achieving amazing things. We want to stretch the girls’ imaginations and show them that they too can reach such heights. The girls will be able to speak to the Role Models and ask questions. Topics covered include leadership, girls’ rights, health and financial literacy. The programme will be delivered in six districts in Ghana: Nkwanta South, Kadjebi in the Volta Region, and Ada East, Ada West, Ningo-Prampram, Shai Osudoku in the Greater Accra Region. The pilot project currently plans to operate within the 72 schools until March 2016.
AN ANeffort EFFORTto TOimprove IMPROVE the ofOF THEpedegogy PEDAGOGY local LOCALteachers TEACHERS The third feature which adds to the overall quality of the instruction in the MGCubed project is the presence of our trained Facilitators. These personnel (who have been identified and are, almost exclusively, female teaching staff already at the treatment school) are involved in both the in-school distance learning lessons and the after-school lessons. As such they are a vital link across the intervention, and their performance in both components will have a direct result on the quality of all lessons delivered. Because they will be reporting to the Headteacher and involved with each School Management Committee, the Facilitators also provide a critical link back into the communities. This helps to reinforce the increasingly positive, attitudinal changes towards girls’ education that our intervention hopes to achieve. We hope that the additional training that our Facilitators will receive, as well as their opportunity to observe lessons, will add to the improvements in teaching practice within the treatment schools, over the longer term.
Community wide COMMUNITY WIDE BENEFITS benefits We know that improving student outcomes can only occur in partnership with schools, students and communities, and we have therefore worked to form a Community Committee in each of the 72 schools we are working in. These Committees are comprised of a representative from the school, a representative from the Traditional Authority, and two or three female leaders, all of whom work together with the MGCubed team to ensure its success. Parents and community leaders in our local communities have highly positive attitudes both towards education as a driver of future economic achievement, as well as specifically targeted girl-child education initiatives, of which very few appeared to be occurring in the areas where we are delivering MGCubed. In addition to support from our parents and community leaders, MGCubed works with volunteers within remote, deprived communities empowering them to take on a variety of different roles which will contribute to the success of the project.
About GEMS Education Solutions
About Varkey Foundation MGCubed
GEMS Education Solutions works with public and private clients transformMGCubed the quality of global education and clients Varkey to Foundation works with public and private skills provision. We are the specialist education consultancy to transform the quality of global education and skills provision. division of GEMS Education, and our services are built on the heritage GEMS hasorganisation been developing Theeducational Varkey Foundation is that a not-for-profit committed for more than 50every years. From use their to ensuring that child hasthis an foundation, opportunity we to receive a quality expertise insight deliver aleadership and management education.and Every childto deserves vibrant, stimulating learning solutions, school skills partnerships and education environment thatimprovement, awakens and supports their full potential. We About GEMS Education Solutions reform. Everything we do is focused on making a tangible believe nothing is more important to achieving this than the passion GEMSdifference Education Solutions works of withlearners, public andcommunities private in the lives and nations, quality of We support global clientsand to transform theteachers. quality of global and teaching capacity and enabling students of all ageseducation to be prepared to succeed in an skills provision. We are theand specialist education seed excellence innovation inconsultancy the next generation of educators. increasingly competitive world. are www.gemsedsolutions.com division of GEMS Education, and our services built on
We also founded the Global Teacher Prize to shine a spotlight on the
the educational heritage that GEMS has been developing incredible workFrom teachers do all over thetheir world. for more than 50 years. this foundation, we use expertise and insight to deliver leadership and management solutions, school improvement, skills partnerships and education www.varkeyfoundation.org reform. Everything we do is focused on making a tangible difference in the lives of learners, communities and nations, No. 18 Switchback Close, Cantonments, enabling students of all ages to be prepared to succeed in an (P.O. Box 10075, CT) Accra, Ghana increasingly competitive world. www.gemsedsolutions.com
GEMS Education Solutions Ghana
Varkey Foundation Ghana
Ghana Office: +233 (0) 570999444
No. 18 Switchback Close, Cantonments, www.facebook.com/mgcubedhome GEMS Education Solutions Ghana (P.O. Box 10075, CT) Accra, Ghana MGCubedGH No. 18 Switchback Close, Cantonments, Ghana Office: +233 (0) 570999444
(P.O. Box 10075, CT) Accra, Ghana
Ghana Office: +233 (0) 570999444
www.facebook.com/mgcubedhome www.facebook.com/mgcubedhome GEMS Education Solutions Ltd. Registered in England and Wales
MGCubedGH MGCubedGH 07669775. Registered offices at 100 Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 1PH The Varkey Foundation is a charity registered with the Charity Commission
isand being GEMS Education Solutions, GEMSMGCubed Education Solutions Ltd.delivered Registered inby England and Wales for England Wales under charity number 1145119 and a company limited 07669775. Registered offices at 100 Hills Road,and Cambridge, CB2 1PH by guarantee in England Wales under company number alongside ourregistered technology partners Aleutia (UK) and Everonn (India). 07774287. Registered office: 5 New Street Square London EC4A 3TW. MGCubed is being delivered by GEMS Education Solutions, alongside our technology partners Aleutia (UK) and Everonn (India).
