Scaling Play-Based Kindergarten Teacher Training Across Ghana

Since 2008, the Government of Ghana has prioritized early childhood education (ECE), introducing two years of compulsory kindergarten (KG) and key reforms such as a play-based Standards-Based Curriculum and a national ECE Policy. While these efforts have expanded access, they have had limited impact on teaching quality, and, as result, child learning outcomes remain weak. 50.83% of P4 learners scored the lowest proficiency level ‘below basic’ in Mathematics and 48.7% of learners scored ‘below basic’ in English language according to the National Standardized Test (GES, NST, 2022). Sabre, Right To Play, and IPA as implementing partners to the government have been supporting ECE in Ghana for many years, modelling, testing and scaling play-based teacher training approaches to improve quality in both teacher and child outcomes, at an increasingly larger scale. Building on years of refinement and strong evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of play-based teacher training methods, Sabre, RTP, and IPA came together in 2021 to co-create a play-based KG teacher training model with the government which could be scaled nationally. And in 2023, the government adopted this model as the national framework for in-service KG teacher training. From April 2026, the Government of Ghana, with technical support from Sabre, RTP, and IPA will implement this KG play-based teacher training for all 30,000 public KG teachers across the country, improving the early education of 1.2 million young learners nationally each year. The two key objectives of the programme are:

1. Increased % of children demonstrating school readiness at the end of KG2 (the level of school readiness across five domains measuring pre-mathematics, pre-literacy, executive functioning, fine motor skills, and socioemotional knowledge).
2. Increased % of KG classes with teaching practices meeting inspection standards (including the use of play-based methodology and positive behaviour management) and with a full complement of teaching and learning resources. The KG play-based teacher training programme targets kindergarten teachers in public schools across Ghana. Over the next two years, it will be scaled nationally to reach all 30,000 public kindergarten teachers, supporting educators in both rural and urban communities across the country. Ultimately, these teachers will be able to enhance the quality of kindergarten education for the 1.2 million four- and five-year-old children they teach every year across Ghana. It is crucial that we target KG teachers with this programme, as they are the key to unlocking stronger learning outcomes for Ghana’s youngest learners. An identified key driver to weak learning outcomes in the KG sector is the lack of teacher capacity and resources to deliver ‘participatory, activity and play-based child-centred learning’, as expected by Ghana's kindergarten curriculum. Ghana’s official curriculum promotes learner-centred classrooms where children engage in hands-on activities, group problem-solving, outdoor activities and guided discussion. However, these approaches have not been implemented in classrooms due to a lack of play-based teacher training and the practical classroom tools to support them. A secondary target group is middle-tier leaders (school leaders and district and regional Ghana Education Service (GES) officers). Through Sabre’s training we aim to build the capacity of middle-tier leaders not only to support teachers through training, monitoring, and pedagogical leadership – but also to strengthen their own ability to supervise, coach, and sustain improved teaching practices through routine government systems and processes. Through government investment in scaling up the KG play-based teaching training programme nationwide, the goal is to improve children’s learning outcomes (literacy, numeracy and psychosocial skills) by strengthening classroom practice and equipping teachers and middle-tier leaders to deliver effective, child-centred instruction. The play-based kindergarten teacher training programme, delivered as capacity building across one full school year in each district, will be led by the GES, supported by technical assistance partners (Sabre, RTP, & IPA), and rolled out across the country. The programme has been designed to be interactive and practice-based focusing on key areas such as play-based pedagogy, positive behaviour management, child assessment, KG curriculum delivery, gender equality, inclusion, and parental/community engagement. The training model prioritises practical, hands-on learning, and also equips headteachers to become effective in-classroom coaches to the teachers, and district officers to provide consistent support to teachers, headteachers, and schools – important work towards strengthening the middle tier. The programme aligns with GES standards and Ghana’s KG curriculum, ensuring consistency and sustainability at scale.