Early childhood literacy as a foundation for child protection and empowerment

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY AS A FOUNDATION FOR CHILD PROTECTION AND EMPOWERMENT

Despite increasing school enrollment rates, Ghana continues to face significant challenges in foundational literacy and numeracy, particularly at the primary level. Inadequate resources, untrained staff, foreign-dominated book collections, and limited infrastructure contribute to alarming statistics from the Ghana Education Service: between 54.5% and 92.5% of pupils score zero in oral reading assessments, and nearly 80% of children do not acquire basic literacy and numeracy skills by the end of primary school.

These figures are concerning, given that literacy is not only essential for cognitive, social, and academic growth but also plays a vital role in addressing broader social issues like poverty, exclusion, and vulnerability. Importantly, literacy equips children with the ability to recognize risks, communicate with caregivers and authorities, and access crucial information about their rights and safety.

Acknowledging this significance, Participatory Development Associates (PDA) on March 20, 2025, organized another edition of its quarterly webinars themed “Early Childhood Literacy as a foundation for Child Protection and Empowerment”.

The virtual event, attended by about 112 participants, sought to highlight the urgency of strengthening literacy as a child protection and empowerment tool. The discussion revolved around key questions such as:

• How does literacy empower children to recognize risks and protect themselves?

• What challenges do children in low-literacy communities face, and how can targeted programs like the CCLP address them?

• How can partnerships between schools, parents, and local organizations strengthen literacy initiatives for child protection?

The webinar featured two key presentations and an interactive Q&A session following an introduction by Aseda Mensah, Coordinator of the PDA Communications and Advocacy Unit.

PRESENTATION 1: Early Childhood Education

 

The first presentation was led by Mr. Tony Dogbe, Executive Director (Ghana) of Sabre Education and an expert in early childhood education. He emphasized that literacy is a fundamental life skill that should begin as early as possible; In a world like ours, non-literate children are excluded from almost every avenue of development and progress. He therefore noted that since children learn language from birth, they should be exposed to literacy through their mother tongue, sounds, and symbols even before formal schooling begins. He again stressed that literacy should not be limited just to reading English but should aim to help children understand and navigate the world around them.

 

He then highlighted the role of parents and schools in fostering early literacy, encouraging caregivers—even non-literate ones—to engage children with picture books and storytelling. Schools, he suggested, should create a safe and welcoming learning environment, using creative teaching methods to make reading and literacy enjoyable. This in itself will help to protect children from the typical abuses they are exposed to on farms, in markets, and even in homes. However, he acknowledged the persistence of key challenges including inadequate access to books in local languages, limited parental involvement, and a lack of early exposure to literacy activities. He ended his presentation with the hope that parents, schools and communities would deliberately commit to low-cost and indigenous modes of building literacy in children as early as possible.

 

PRESENTATION 2: Lessons from the Cocoa Communities Library Project (CCLP)

 

The second presentation was delivered by Miss Victoria Ampiah, the team lead implementing the Cocoa Communities’ Library Project (CCLP) by Magic Libraries Foundation and PDA. She shared insights from the Project, which is a reading initiative aimed at improving literacy in cocoa-growing communities. She explained that the project introduced community libraries, reading clubs, and a peer mentorship approach to improve child literacy in target communities. According to results from the field, these interventions have increased children’s interest in reading and improved literacy rates, with over 85% of participants showing significant progress in reading assessments.

Beyond literacy, the project has contributed to child protection and empowerment. She illustrated how children who develop reading skills are more confident, better informed about their rights, and more capable of recognizing risks such as exploitation and abuse. Parents’ attitudes toward reading have also improved, leading to greater support for children’s literacy at home. Victoria emphasized that partnerships with schools, parents, faith-based organizations, and local authorities have been crucial to the success and sustainability of the program.

 

 

Q&A SESSION

The Q&A session explored practical solutions for improving early childhood literacy and child protection. One major discussion point was the recognition that the Ghana Education Service (GES) ought to revise its early childhood model to include crèche and nursery levels to help reduce the literacy gap. The speakers agreed that early exposure to literacy is essential but emphasized the need for proper teacher training and resources to ensure effectiveness.

Another key question focused on promoting play-based functional literacy in community and low-fee private schools. The response highlighted that schools should be fun and engaging spaces, and teachers should be trained in positive child development to encourage interactive learning. This should draw on community structures and low-cost teaching and learning materials to reduce the burden on the government.

The discussion also addressed concerns about challenges with multiple languages in early childhood literacy. The speakers emphasized that mother-tongue-based learning enhances literacy development, and children can gradually transition to additional languages without hindrance.

Finally, participants raised concerns about children being overburdened with long school hours and extra classes. The response stressed the importance of balancing structured learning with creative activities at home to support cognitive development while ensuring children’s overall well-being.

CLOSING REMARKS

In his closing remarks, Edem Agbe, Managing Director of PDA, emphasized the critical role of literacy in shaping confident and empowered children. He noted that when children are advocated for and given the right support, they develop the confidence to express themselves, think critically, and solve problems. He highlighted the importance of fostering curiosity in young minds, as this not only strengthens their ability to learn but also prepares them to navigate challenges effectively.

He concluded by affirming that this conversation on early childhood literacy and child protection does not end here. Instead, it must continue through ongoing dialogue, collaboration, and action to ensure that every child has access to the tools and opportunities needed for a brighter future.

Access the full recording of the session here.