From 17th to 19th February 2021, Transforming Teaching, Education and Learning T-TEL held a 3-day planning meeting that served as an onboarding process for all its staff. The meeting established a clear understanding of T-TEL as an organisation, including its financial, administrative procedures and communications guidelines, and how the work of all staff contributes towards its organisational goals.
Opening
Prof. Jophus Anamuah Mensah, Board Chair of T-TEL, in his opening presentation, explained the Vision, Mission, Guiding Principles and Objects of T-TEL as an organisation. Prof. Anamuah-Mensah charged all staff members to abide by the guiding principles of the organisations to enable T-TEL to become a “leading supplier of educational technical assistance for improving learning outcomes and greater productivity”.
Explaining T-SHEL
Robin Todd, Executive Director, of T-TEL explained that Transforming Senior High School Education, Teaching and Learning (T-SHEL) is a Government of Ghana programme implemented with funding from the Mastercard Foundation. He noted that the purpose of the T-SHEL programme is to “achieve an extensive and sustainable transformation in the quality and relevance of Ghana’s Senior High School (SHS) system. T-SHEL seeks to ensure that every SHS graduate in Ghana is equipped with the subject knowledge, analytical and critical thinking skills and attitudes needed to progress to further studies or successfully enter the world of work”. He further explained that T-SHEL will be implemented in two phases. Phase One (February 2021 – January 2023) focuses on developing and articulating the nation’s vision for SHS education and putting in place the necessary policies, curricula and other preparatory activities required for effective implementation. Phase Two (February 2023 – January 2027) will see the national roll-out of agreed policies and curricula to ensure that every SHS graduate in Ghana is equipped with the subject knowledge and analytical and critical thinking skills needed to progress to further studies or successfully enter the world of work.
Integrating Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI)
Speaking at the planning meeting, Dinah Adiko, Key Adviser for GESI, reiterated the need to ensure that GESI is in the DNA of the organisation. We must ensure that GESI inclusive approaches including the issues of tailored ICT tools are used to bring everyone on the same page. She admonished staff to be considerate and conscious of hidden biases to ensure fairness and inclusivity within the organisation and across our projects. According to her, “GESI must reflect in every everything we do. We must be conscious and intentional about GESI. This way, we will leave no one behind”.
Strategising for Impact
Following a presentation on the T-SHEL roadmap, workstreams developed their key priorities for the next six months. These priorities were further subjected to joint reviews to ensure coordination. The workplans were further developed into activity plans for the first six months of the organization.
Strategising for Impact
At the end of the three-day planning meeting each workstream developed a 6-month draft workplan to guide their work. Staff expressed a better appreciation of the organisation and the expectations required of them. Prof. Anamuah-Mensah urged staff to put in their best to ensure that “T-TEL becomes the go-to educational organisation providing high quality technical advice, project management, research and implementation support services in Ghana and beyond”.