Abstract:
This study was designed to find out the contributions of World Vision
Ghana (WVG) to the development of basic education in the Twifo Hemang-Lower
Denkyira District (THLDD) in the Central Region in Ghana.
The study involved a sample of 469, comprising 24 district education
officials, 10 DEOC members, 24 headteachers, 13 staff of WVG (Twifo ADP),
the head of education and capacity building - WVG, 48 child welfare service
officers (CWSO), 120 parents and 240 community members. The questionnaire,
interviews, focus group discussions and observation were the main instruments
employed to collect data for this descriptive survey. A return rate of 100% was
achieved for the questionnaires administered. The main methods used in
analyzing the data were frequency and percentage distributions.
The major findings were that WVG has to a large extent contributed to
improvement in teaching and learning, efficiency in school management and
increasing access and participation at the basic level of education in the district
through training, and the provision of school facilities. Another major finding
from the study is that 60% of all the support given to pupils in basic education
goes to the girl child to encourage girl child education.
From the study, it is found that WVG has been successful in its efforts at
HIV/AIDS education at the basic education level through sensitization by the
various club formed by WVG and their positive activities. WVG has also
contributed to the moral development of the pupils in their various community-schools through the he activities of the GOOD NEWS clubs formed by WVG. In
addition nutrition and sanitation has improved in the environment at the school
and in the community at large through the activities of the nutrition and sanitation
clubs. Above all the study indicated that WVG projects experiences problems
such as bad roads, unfavourable seasons, apathy on the part of community
members and financial constraints.
It was realized from the study that the WVG has provided teachers
accommodation in some communities on the whole; however, in the perception of
communities, this effort is not adequate. It is therefore recommended to WVG to
consider accommodation for teachers in their future plans.