The In-service Teacher Training (INSET) project is currently working with 5 schools in the Western Region. This condensed training draws on the core elements of the successful Fast-track Transformational Teacher Training project. Unlike the Fast-track Transformational Teacher Training project the INSET does not include pre-service student teachers, and so is not geographically tied to communities in the vicinity of Colleges of Education. We have therefore been able to work with schools in the Ellembelle District, about an hour and a half west of our Western Region office.

The second workshop was delivered last week and was held at Eikwe Catholic School. The training was structured to introduce the schools to the ‘All About Me’ theme and the kindergarten phonics programme for KG1 and KG2. The KG1 phonics programme focuses on how to teach readiness for reading and writing whilst KG2 teachers start to teach the sounds of letters and how to read through blending and segmenting.
Another key focus of this training workshop was assessment. The teachers were introduced to the Pupil Achievement Record, which allows teacher to record individual children’s progress throughout the school year.

We were delighted to have the new director of Ellembelle District, Mr Peter Blay Ackah Quayson, visit the training workshop. Mr Blay Ackah Quayson is familiar with the teacher training from his previous position as Director of Jomoro. In Jomoro he scaled up the project to some of the circuits in his district after witnessing the impact of the activity based teaching and learning approach. Mr Blay Ackah Quayson said ”I am very interested in the programme and kindergarten education in this district and will be happy if all teachers are professionally trained on this programme to help scale quality education in Ghana. Again teachers need to be specialised in early childhood and concentrate on their field in making a change from the old way of teaching”