Deloitte and Spring-UP Global Network commissioned the Osu Cluster of Schools library on Thursday 17th November, 2022.
The facility is the first of the 8 school libraries being refurbished across Ghana by Deloitte and Spring-UP Global Network under the Deloitte WorldClass Initiative.
The refurbished library which was completed within six (6) weeks is stocked with one thousand two-hundred (1,200) books, mainly African authored. It has a preschool corner, a reading floor, African Writers Series section and a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) corner and mind-stimulating games. The library will serve over 3,900 children belonging to the eleven (11) schools in the Osu Cluster of Schools.
Mr. Daniel Owusu, Deloitte Ghana Country Managing Partner said the initiative is part of Deloitte’s WorldClass Initiative aimed at preparing 100 million people to be better prepared for the future of work, in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He said the initiative will improve literacy rates of children by making libraries accessible to children in 6 regions across Ghana starting with the Osu Cluster of Schools.
Guest speaker Dr. Kwabena Tandoh, Deputy Director-General in charge of Quality and Access af GES who represented the Director-General, Dr. Eric Nkansah congratulated Deloitte and Spring-UP Global Network for augmenting the government’s efforts and said he was happy that the majority of the books in the library had content on Ghana and Africa as a whole.
The Municipal Director of Education for Korle Klottey Municipal, Mrs. Joyce Osae-Apenteng who received the library on behalf of the school applauded Deloitte and Spring-UP Global Network for the kind gesture and pledged to ensure that the library will be put to maximum use.
Speaking on behalf of the Ga Mantse, Nana Kwaku Koomson Acquah, Paramount Chief of Akim said he was pleased that the 11 schools within the Osu Cluster will finally have access to the well-stocked library facility even after school hours hence preventing the children from engaging in social vices.
The colourful ceremony was attended by Dr. Kwabena Tandoh, Deputy Director-General in charge of Quality and Access af GES; Daniel Kwadwo Owusu, Deloitte Ghana Country Managing Partner; Akorfa Ama Akoto, President of Spring-UP Global Network; Yomi Olugbenro, Deloitte West Africa Tax Leader; Nana Kwaku Koomson Acquah, Paramount Chief of Akim, Apradi; Reverend Erasmus Laryea, District Minister Osu Eben-Ezar Presbyterian church Osu; Mrs. Joyce Osae-Apenteng, Municipal Director of Education, Korle – Klottey Municipal; Mrs. Vida Koranteng Odame, School Improvement Support Officer (SISO);Partners of Deloitte Ghana, Charlotte Forson Abbey, Kofi Awuah; Staff of Deloitte Ghana, Nana Churcher of Nana Churcher Multimedia based in the UK, Youth Educators and Volunteers of Spring-UP Global Network and other stakeholders in the education sector.
Background
WorldClass is Deloitte’s organisation-wide global initiative, which seeks to prepare 100 million futures for a world of opportunity by 2030. This bold ambition exemplifies how we live our Purpose, making an impact that matters, by addressing global challenges in society. By aligning around a common goal and mission, Deloitte is inspiring increased commitment and investment in education, skills development, and access to opportunity.
In September 2022, Deloitte announced the launch of its global initiative ‘WorldClass’ in Ghana, which aims to refurbish and restock eight libraries in rural and deprived basic schools. The initiative is aimed at positively impacting over 30,000 children by 2030.
Deloitte named Spring-UP Global Network, a youth-led not-for-profit, working to bridge the literacy gap between children in rural and urban Ghana, as a partner to realize its WorldClass purpose.
This partnership will see Deloitte and Spring-UP Global Network renovate and refurbish eight (8) school libraries, making secure and conducive school libraries accessible to over 30,000 children in Ghana. As an add-on incentive and intervention, the partnership will also launch Reading and Writing clubs in the beneficiary primary and Junior High Schools in Ghana. In addition, the staff of Deloitte Ghana will collectively invest over 1000 hours to participate in reading and mentorship sessions for students in the first year of the program.
The Library Project- iRead iLead Campaign
The iRead iLead Campaign is a 10-year strategic educational programme launched in January 2020 by Spring-UP Global Network which includes the iRead iLead Library Project and the iRead iLead Literacy Programme. The iRead iLead Library Project focuses on refurbishing and building new libraries in rural and deprived schools in Ghana, while the iRead iLead Literacy Programme is focused on establishing Reading and Writing Clubs called the ‘LitChild Clubs’ in schools to build the literacy capacity of children in rural communities.
