Education Ministry launches reconstituted research group for policy reform

The Ministry of Education has taken a major step toward data-driven decision-making with the launch of the reconstituted Education Sector Research Group (ESRG).

The inauguration, held on Wednesday, July 16, forms part of the Ghana Accountability for Learning Outcomes Project Additional Financing (GALOP AF2), a government initiative aimed at scaling up successful interventions and strengthening the research infrastructure that supports them.

As part of this effort, GALOP AF2 is also providing funding for the revitalised ESRG.

Addressing the event on  Education, Minister Haruna Iddrisu underscored the importance of evidence and data in guiding effective education policies that impact Ghanaian children.

The group has been expanded to include a broader membership base, drawing from academia, civil society, think tanks, and development partners. This inclusion ensures that a diverse range of perspectives will inform the Research and Learning Agenda (RLA).

The Minister also outlined the expectations for the ESRG, which include facilitating the drafting and finalisation of the RLA to identify and refine high-impact research questions, generating and synthesising evidence into actionable policy briefs, and monitoring the use of such evidence in decision-making to promote accountability.

Haruna Iddrisu expressed appreciation to development partners, particularly the SCALE Funders, the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), and the World Bank, for their continued confidence in Ghana’s education reform agenda and their dedication to building the country’s capacity to learn, adapt, and thrive.