The Ministry of Education is considering expanding numeracy-focused programmes across the country after recognising that mathematics has not received the same level of attention as
The report indicates that the Ministry of Education is considering expanding numeracy-focused programmes across the country after recognising that mathematics has not received the same level of attention as literacy in basic education.
It further notes that the Head of Unit in charge of Early Childhood Education and Principal Programmes Officer at the Ministry of Education, Isaac Atta Baah, stated the ministry has over the years introduced several interventions to improve children’s reading skills, but similar efforts in numeracy have been limited.
Speaking at the 2026 World Access Brainest National Abacus Competition in Accra, which promotes mathematics among children, Mr Atta Baah stated the event had highlighted the need for stronger national interventions to improve pupils’ numeracy skills.
He stated he would submit a report on the competition to the Minister of Education and the ministry’s management to explore ways of expanding the initiative across the country.
“Today’s programme has actually opened my eyes and, for that matter, the eyes of the Ministry of Education,” he said.
“We’ve realised over the years that we have put a lot of interventions in place to help children to read, but it looks as if we’ve given little or no regard to numeracy.”
He added that the ministry would consider scaling up the programme to strengthen mathematics education nationwide.
“Looking at what is going on, I think I will share this report with the Honourable Minister and the management of the Ministry of Education to expand this programme so that we can also strengthen the numeracy level of children in this country,” he said.
Mr Atta Baah explained that the proposal would first be discussed by the ministry’s management before a decision is taken.
“I’m going to share a report with management for us to put in place a system that would help us to scale up this particular programme,” he said.
“We’ll discuss this at the management meeting, and I’m sure the Honourable Minister, who is a listening minister, would agree for us to scale up this programme.”
Mr Atta Baah also raised concerns about the growing performance gap between boys and girls, saying girls dominated this year’s competition.
He stated that girls won about 90 per cent of the awards and attributed their progress partly to the many interventions aimed at promoting girls’ education.
“One thing that I realised from this, and I think last year too, is that about 90 per cent of the girls were sweeping all the awards,” he said.
