We believe Ashanti’s main educational problems are due to the poor standard of English – children need to speak English before they can learn to read and write - and outdated teaching methods. So we send English-speaking volunteers to teach in local schools, and long-term volunteer teacher-trainers to improve teaching practice. We monitor progress from year to year.
We also arrange twinning between Ashanti schools and schools in the UK. For example, Cranford Park Primary School at Yateley in Hampshire recently started twinning with Nkwabrim Primary School in Ashanti. They launched the twinning by recording themselves singing a song called ‘Precious Water,’ specially composed for Ashanti Development by musician Bob Browning. In return, Nkwabrim children sang a Christmas carol for Cranford.
Most schools are run-down and sometimes even dangerous, so we construct new buildings whenever we can find the money. We also send over teaching materials and books – and are particularly grateful to Queenswood School in North London for helping us equip a small library.
One of our volunteers is running a project to provide a computer room, and another is trying to find laptops for every school. And our staff in Ashanti have set up a tree planting project, providing for every child to receive a sapling when they are three years from leaving. The children need to look after the sapling – water it, and see that it’s not damaged by animals – and the one whose tree grows best is awarded a certificate.
