Reading Festival Boosts Literacy and Learning Among Children in Krachi West, Ghana

By Brako Sasu, Education Project Officer 

Krachi West Municipality is one of the areas in the Oti Region where World Vision Ghana implements programmes to improve the wellbeing of children. These include Child Sponsorship, Child Protection, Advocacy, Health, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Nutrition, Resilience for Every Child, and education through Learning Essentials and Skills for Resilience Next Generation.

Foundational literacy remains a significant challenge in the municipality. The World Vision Ghana Technical Programme 2025 Evaluation Report found that only 12 out of 75 Grade 2 children, representing 16%, could read a Grade 2-level passage and correctly answer at least four out of five comprehension questions. This means that 84% did not meet the expected benchmark. This reflects Ghana’s wider learning crisis, as UNICEF Ghana reported in 2024 that 80% of children do not acquire basic literacy and numeracy skills by the end of primary school.

In response to this gap, World Vision Ghana’s Krachi West Area Programme, in collaboration with the Krachi West Municipal Education Directorate, organised a Reading Festival at Ntewusae School Park on Wednesday, 8 July 2026. The event was held under the theme, “Nurturing Young Readers for Lifelong Learning.”

The festival aimed to promote reading among lower-primary children, build their confidence and encourage teachers, parents and communities to support children’s learning. It also contributed to Sustainable Development Goal 4, which promotes inclusive and equitable quality education for all children.

The festival brought together seven schools: Ntewusae M/A Primary, Bommoden M/A Primary, Ankaase Matamalam M/A Basic School, Pechi Akura M/A Primary, Ehiamankyene M/A Primary, Ehiamankyene R/C Primary ‘A’ and Ehiamankyene R/C Primary ‘B’. A total of 791 children, teachers, parents, caregivers and community leaders participated.

Among the invited guests were the Krachi West Municipal Director of Education, Mr. Samuel Yao Dorvlo; a representative of the Municipal Chief Executive; Ghana Education Service officials; community leaders; headteachers; teachers; parents; representatives of Adom TV; World Vision Ghana staff; After-School Reading Club facilitators; and Child Welfare Supervisors. Although rainfall delayed the start of the programme, the participants remained enthusiastic.

The main activity was an inter-school literacy competition that assessed letter knowledge, phonemic awareness, reading fluency, reading comprehension and word formation. The competition gave the children an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities and helped teachers identify areas in which pupils were performing well and those requiring further support.

Ankaase Matamalam M/A Basic School emerged first with 95 points, followed by Ntewusae M/A Primary School with 89 points and Bommoden M/A Primary School with 79 points. To encourage continuous reading and learning, World Vision Ghana distributed 200 branded exercise books, 250 Bibles, and 300 pencils and erasers to the participating children and schools. These materials will support literacy development, classroom learning and the spiritual nurturing of children. The participating schools and pupils also received certificates in recognition of their efforts.

Two girls from Ankaase Matamalam M/A Basic School received bicycles for their outstanding performance. They were Akua, an eight-year-old Primary Two pupil, and Blessing, a nine-year-old pupil. The bicycles were especially important because the girls travelled approximately two kilometres to school.

Expressing her joy, Akua said, “I am very happy to receive this bicycle. It will help me get to school early and give me more time to learn.”

Blessing also shared, “Walking to school was tiring, but this bicycle will make the journey easier. I will continue to read and study hard.”

The impact of the festival extended beyond the competition. It created renewed interest in reading and motivated children and teachers to work harder. The winning school is determined to maintain its standard, while the schools that placed second and third have committed to improving their performance. Some schools that did not participate have also started strengthening reading lessons and preparing their pupils for future festivals.

The Krachi West Municipal Director of Education thanked World Vision Ghana for supporting children’s education and requested continued collaboration to organise similar activities. Community leaders also recognised that improving children’s reading requires the combined efforts of schools, parents, communities and development partners.

The Ntewusae Reading Festival was more than a competition. It unearthed children’s talents, strengthened their confidence and renewed community commitment to learning. Through continued collaboration, the interest in reading created by the festival can contribute to improved learning, lifelong skills and brighter futures for children in the Krachi Area Programme.