Skills Builder

This content was written by

Asene Manso Municipal Asembly

Context

Asenemaso D/A Basic School is a government school in the Atwima Nwabiagya Municipal. The school has learners' aged four to eighteen. The school's curriculum Standard Base Curriculum is already embedded with skills such as Problem Solving, Teamwork, Creativity and Listening, which teaching and learning is centered on.

Overall impact

Every class in the school participated in the programme, the skills were embedded across all subjects (where teachers incorporated it into their lessons). Through strategy meetings and support, teachers were taken through each skill and the principles which made it easier for teachers to help students master the skills.

Keep it simple

Team leaders ensured that almost all teachers were using the same language (from the Framework) all of the time, and in lesson delivery everything started from the known to the unknown for students’ full participation and to support development. Listening and Speaking posters were displayed in classrooms. Teachers discussed the skills in assemblies with all students.

Start early, keep going

Every class in the school participated, including KG1 (which is the class with the youngest learners, aged 4). Learners at this stage were grouped for most activities. In the Junior High School where learners' ages ranged from 11 to 18 years, learners practised Teamwork, Creativity and Problem Solving through project work.

Measure it

Learners' progress in essential skills was monitored through observation. Learners were also given the chance to do self assessments. After focusing on each skill, strengths and weaknesses were discussed by the entire team.

Focus tightly

The entire team agreed on building upon a child's current skill set, where lessons are delivered from the known to the unknown and every child's progress (against the Framework) is monitored closely. Some teachers teach the skills in a morning period, and use the offline handbook guidance.

Keep practising

As well as during classroom activities, skills were reinforced through extra curricular activities such as sports and drama. The skill displays support teachers to make explicit reference to the skills. Questions are also asked to assess students' skills. Some of the questions are taken from the handbook guidance.

Bring it to life

Learners are encouraged to practise the skills at home. Project work (which links skills to real life situations) is given to learners to work on in their communities.

What's next

To develop skills further in clubs such as the drama club, writers’ club, debate club...

Ghana