Ghana reaffirms commitment to play-based learning

Ghana is doubling down on play-based learning as the bedrock of its early childhood education strategy. The nation reaffirmed this commitment during the International Day of Play, celebrated with interactive activities for schoolchildren in Accra.

Stakeholders from the Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service, and development partners like Right to Play and UNICEF convened to emphasize that play is not a break from learning, but the very method through which children acquire knowledge. This approach is seen as crucial for nurturing foundational literacy, numeracy, critical thinking, and resilience.

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Play is not a break from Learning; It is how Children Learn.

The Ministry of Education highlighted significant progress in expanding kindergarten access and improving curriculum delivery. The current focus is on enhancing learning quality through play-centered methodologies. "Every child, regardless of where they are born, deserves access to quality learning experiences from the very beginning of life," stated Isaac Atta Baah, Head of Early Childhood Education at the Ministry. He added that children learn best through "active, engaging, and joyful experiences such as exploration, storytelling, movement, creativity, and play."

As part of national education reforms, around 30,000 kindergarten teachers are undergoing training to implement high-quality play-based instruction. This initiative, supported by a coalition of government bodies and international organizations, aims to ensure that quality early learning reaches every child. Education Specialist Kwabena Gao of Right to Play Ghana stressed that play-based methods are integral to the successful execution of Ghana's education curriculum.

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Every child, regardless of where they are born, deserves access to quality learning experiences from the very beginning of life. Children learn best through active, engaging, and joyful experiences such as exploration, storytelling, movement, creativity, and play.