Right To Play in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Lego Foundation has launched the first Annual National Level Forum on Learning through Play in Accra.
The forum brought together education stakeholders including teachers, play-based learning trainers, education directors, among others.
A Deputy Minister for Education, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour said the government is committed to using play to improve learning outcomes at the basic level and is interested in continuing with all existing collaborations with Right To Play.
Delivering a speech for the sector minister, Dr. Yaw Adutwum, he said the impact of the techniques have proven successful and the government is looking to scale up the efforts of Right To Play to achieve broader results.
“We cherish the collaboration with some development partners and in particular right to play in the aspect of play-based learning which informs many aspects of the curriculum reform introducing critical thinking, collaboration and interactive sessions to learning at the very earlier stages have proven very effective and for all the projects that Right To Play has been able to implement so far have yield some positive impacts that we must be able to scale on,” Rev. Ntim Fordjour said.
The Assin South legislator added that the partnership of the Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service and the Right To Play has ensured that over 600 teachers have been trained in three regions to promote play-based learning.
“We’ve trained 620 district teachers support teams for three project targets and we have targeted the Greater Accra region, Volta Region and the Northern regions on learning through play pedagogies and provision of quarterly transfer of financial support.”
The Northern Regional director of education and chairman for the occasion, Dr. Peter Attafuah, lauded the efforts of Right to Play and stated that the impact of play-based learning is boosting the confidence of pupils, especially the girl-child.
“Using play to teach children has achieved better results. Using play ensures teamwork and allows the children to be creative. We have also seen that their measures have encouraged girls to aspire to higher positions. Right To Play among other things is encouraging pupils to better express themselves.”
The Executive Director for Right To Play Ghana, Josephine Mukakalisa, said play has now become very important in education in Ghana and all efforts must be made to encourage it in schools and communities.
“We know that paly is very important to children’s development and an integral part of their early foundation and supports their learning journey. Young people develop many skills through the power of play.”
Some participants in the forum called for deliberate efforts to create physical spaces for play by pupils.