The World Bank has disclosed that learning crisis has the potential of undermining sustainable growth.
Acting Country Manager of the World Bank Dr. Beatrix Allah-Mensah says the Human Capital Index (HCI) scores across countries is 0.56.
This implies that a child born today will only be 56% productive by age 18 as opposed to the bench mark set for a child with complete education and full health.
“As a major contributor to human capital deficits, the learning crisis undermines sustainable growth and poverty reduction,” she said.
Her comments come on the back of the End Poverty Day celebration at the World Bank Head Office in Greater Accra. The 2019 theme for End Poverty Day is ‘Ending Learning Poverty: What will it take?’
Dr. Allah-Mensah, who said this at a ceremony to mark the Day, said the relevance of human capital in sustainable growth cannot be overestimated, and that human capital contributes to 60% of wealth.
She attributed the deficit in human capital to a learning crisis emanating from shortcomings in quality and quantity of schooling.
“Poor education outcomes thus have major costs for future prosperity,” she reiterated.
The World Bank Country Manager outlined three key solutions to combat the human capital deficit, namely a refreshed education approach, a literacy policy and an ambitious measurement and research agenda.
On her part, a Deputy Education Minister, Gifty Twum-Ampofo, revealed Ghana ranks 116 out of 154 countries on the human capital index.
She mentioned that Ghana joined the Human Capital Project instituted by the World Bank last year to build political commitment for accelerating investment in people in health and educational sectors.
She underscored the need for a collective effort from parents, policy makers, teachers and students to help close the learning gap.
Ending her speech, she called for action to redouble efforts in countries where extreme learning poverty is entrenched and pace of ‘Ending Learning Poverty’ is at risk of decelerating.
By Ferdinard Tiekon| 3news.com| Ghana