Journeying Across Schools in Ghana Through the Lens
The roads took us through bustling communities and quiet corners of Ghana, but everywhere we stopped, we encountered the same thing. Educators, determined to give children a better future.
As part of a field visit with donors from Germany, I had the privilege of documenting firsthand how Opportunity International’s Education Finance and EduQuality programs are transforming schools, strengthening leadership, and expanding opportunities for thousands of children. Beyond the reports and statistics, this journey revealed the stories behind the impact.
At Fly High Academy in the Central Region, resilience was impossible to miss. The school began in 2019 with 5 students and 2 teachers. COVID-19 threatened its survival, but the school's founder persevered. Today, enrolment has grown significantly, and the school continues to improve through Opportunity International’s EduQuality programs.
“Whatever they taught us, if you implement it, you increase everything,” Mr Bediako, the proprietor, shared. He spoke passionately about adopting clean and safe school practices, creating a healthier learning environment for children and building greater trust among parents.
The power of peer learning was equally evident. Through school clusters, leaders exchange ideas instead of competing. “We work together. We share ideas and best practices,” one school leader explained, demonstrating how collaboration is helping schools solve common challenges and grow stronger together.
At Grace Avenue School, the story was one of vision and purpose. Founded to ensure that every child, regardless of family income, could access quality education, the school has grown from 8 learners in 2007 to over 260 learners today.
“Every parent would want to give their child a quality education, but money becomes a barrier,” Lydia, the founder, reflected. “I don't discriminate. I welcome all of them.”
Through Opportunity International’s School Leadership Professional Development program, Grace Avenue strengthened its strategic planning and financial management. Access to financing through Opportunity International Savings and Loans and Sinapi Aba Savings and Loans also enabled critical infrastructure improvements, including expanded learning spaces, computer facilities, and better sanitation facilities that directly benefit learners and teachers.
Similar stories emerged at Emerald Achievers School and Holy Covenant School, where school leaders described how training transformed the way they manage their schools. For many proprietors, the greatest lesson was learning to run a school as both an educational institution and a sustainable business.
Mr. Mankata, proprietor of Emerald Achievers School, explained how training on budgeting changed everything: “Before, I would just take money and buy what I needed. Now I put everything down, calculate my expenses, and plan before the term begins.”
These improvements are not happening in isolation. Opportunity International’s program model combines Teacher Mentorship Professional Development, School Leadership Academy training, and access to finance to strengthen entire school communities.
During Teacher Mentorship Professional Development training sessions, educators demonstrated techniques focused on student engagement, equity, and positive learning experiences. As one teacher shared, the training helped teachers understand how to give every child the support they need to succeed.
The impact extends beyond classrooms. A visit to Opportunity International Savings and Loans highlighted the critical role of education financing. Through partnerships with financial institutions, schools gain access to loans that help them build classrooms, improve sanitation facilities, purchase equipment, and expand enrolment.
Reflecting on the visit, Opportunity International’s Global Head of Education Finance, Andrew McCusker, captured what many of us witnessed throughout the week. “All of the school proprietors are doing the best for the learners in their schools,” he shared.
As I looked through my camera lens, I saw more than school buildings and training sessions. I saw determination, innovation, and hope. I saw educators investing their lives in children.
The lesson from this journey is clear. Quality education requires both strong teaching and strong financing. Training empowers educators. Financing provides the resources to grow. Together, they create schools where children can learn, thrive, and dream bigger.
If we truly want more children in better schools, we must continue investing in education financing. Because when we invest in a school, we do more than improve infrastructure. We help shape the future of a child, a community, and ultimately, a nation.
