Dr. Abena Nyarkoa launches Nkunim Educational Project in Ghana

Ghanaian UK-based lecturer, Dr.Abena Nyarkoa has launched Nkunim Project, to foster education equality amongst students in Ghana.

The Nkunim initiative is aimed at promoting inclusive, equitable teaching in mainstream education and bridging the educational gaps for students from marginalised and disadvantaged backgrounds.

Speaking at the launch which took place at the British Council last Friday, Dr.Abena Nyarkoa said, everyone wants to join the winning team, adding that in most schools attention is always paid to those who are needy but brilliant children.

She queried “Who will cater for the vulnerable, adamant, those who are not brilliant? They mostly end up repeating the class or are suspended from school.”

According to her, “This is what I did at my PhD level when I came to Ghana to collect data. What I realised was when a child is physically disabled, when I child is deaf or blind, they take them to either School for the Deaf or Blind, what happens when the child is mild autistic, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder,(ADHD)  what if the child was born with Dyslexia (a learning difficulty).

Dr.Nyarkoa added that these children are mostly integrated into mainstream learning without anyone providing for them.

She said there is a difference between disability and disorder, adding that everyone is different and must be catered for when it comes to learning.

Dr.Nyarkoa further urged parents and stakeholders in the academic spaces to pay attention to the non-academic needs of children, adding that it is the reason the Nkunim Project was birthed.

This, she said, was a direct result of the findings after she undertook her project in Ghana.

According to her, at the heart of the Nkunim Educational Project is, “education is a fundamental right, not a privilege.”

Dr.Abena Nyarkoa noted that they are on a mission to tackle the growing disparities in educational opportunities, guided by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 & 5.

“Our goal is to create an inclusive, equitable, and high-quality learning environment in mainstream education, ensuring that every child, regardless of their socio-economic status, has access to the tools they need to succeed,” she added.

Speaking at the event, Oheneyere Gifty Anti recounted how her similar support to some individuals over the years has helped shape their lives and career.

She advised Dr.Nyarkoa to seek some psychological support for these individuals she would be supporting.

“There would be attacks, and the terrain is rough, but with determination and resilience you would overcome, because what you are doing is needed, and would go a long way to help others,” she said.

Nkunim is a visionary non-profit initiative dedicated to reshaping the landscape of education in Ghana and Sub-Saharan Africa.

They seek to work closely with the government of Ghana and other governments in the region to provide quality and equal access to mainstream education to help unbridled the potential of students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The NKUNIM project is a movement that is committed to education quality, thus it is for anyone and everyone who wants to see more levels of quality and fairness in public education.

Their name, ‘Nkunim,’ symbolizes triumph and victory, reflecting our commitment to overcoming educational inequalities and unlocking the boundless potential of students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme