The World Bank has received an additional $117 million grant from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) to expand the Ghana Learning and Accountability Outcomes Project (GALOP) to all public primary and kindergarten schools nationwide.

This funding aims to enhance pupils' preparedness and develop the critical skills needed to strengthen basic education in the country.

The World Bank Country Director, Dr. Robert Taliercio, announced the additional grant and attributed its release to the project's success. Initially, GALOP targeted 10,000 low-performing primary and kindergarten schools in Ghana.

Dr. Taliercio made this pledge during a site visit to a GALOP school with the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, to assess the project's implementation progress.

The visit took the World Bank Director and the Education Minister to St. Thomas Presbyterian Primary and Kindergarten School in Osu.

GALOP, a $335.83-million project, aims to improve the quality of education in low-performing basic schools while strengthening equity and accountability in Ghana's education sector.

Dr. Taliercio stated that with the new funding, the total disbursement had reached $335.83 million.

He further noted that the World Bank had initially released $218.7 million for the project, which is expected to conclude in 2026.

Emphasising the significance of education in Ghana’s socio-economic development, he highlighted GALOP’s role in preparing pupils and equipping them with the essential skills needed for the country’s growth.

The Country Director reaffirmed the World Bank’s commitment to supporting education in Ghana, stressing that education is a key tool for poverty alleviation and for equipping the youth with the necessary skills for employment and national development.

Dr. Taliercio also encouraged pupils to study hard and excel in their education.

The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, expressed appreciation to the World Bank for its continued support of Ghana’s education sector.

He emphasised that foundational literacy and numeracy are crucial for children's development.

He further stated that, as part of GALOP, a national standardized test would be conducted this year for pupils from Class One to Junior High School Two (JHS 2).