In a remote, rural village in Ghana’s Ashanti region, nine-year-old Sulemana had never held a pencil, written his name, or stepped inside a classroom. The cost of school fees kept his dreams of getting an education out of reach, while his days were spent helping on his family’s farm. Sadly, Sulemena’s story is not unique – thousands of primary-school-aged children in Ghana are still out of school.
Now, sitting proudly at a wooden desk in a joyful Luminos classroom, Sulemana is learning to read and discovering new possibilities that education unlocks.
Since 2021, Luminos has worked with community-based organizations and the government of Ghana to launch and scale our free, catch-up education program, reaching more than 12,260 out-of-school children with transformative education. The Luminos program builds on Ghana’s national accelerated learning curriculum to equip children with foundational literacy and numeracy skills. It helps them catch up on the first three years of schooling in just one year and transition into government schools successfully.
“I used to admire how my friends could read and count,” says Sulemana. “It motivated me to join the program.”
Sulemana lights up when talking about his favorite subject: literacy. “I learned to read stories this year!” he shares proudly, his face beaming with excitement.
For Sulemana, learning to read is more than understanding words on a page – it’s about building confidence, expanding his vocabulary, and unlocking a world of opportunities. He is determined to become a fluent reader, knowing that strong foundational skills will open doors to even greater achievements.
“I used to admire how my friends could read and count. It motivated me to join the program.”
Sulemana, Luminos student in Ghana
“I love school because that is the only way to gain knowledge and become someone important in the future,” says Sulemana. “I want to become a doctor when I grow up!”
Luminos students Nasira (front left) and Sulemana (front right) have fun with their classmates. (Photo: Obeng Baah for the Luminos Fund)
Year on year, the Luminos program aims to foster children’s belief in their own potential, empowering them to continue excelling in government schools and beyond. Our focus on foundational literacy and numeracy helps students master essential skills while cultivating confidence and a mindset for lifelong learning.
2023-24 Ghana Program Results:
A recent external evaluation found that Luminos students made remarkable progress in foundational literacy and numeracy during the 2023-24 school year.
Oral reading fluency (ORF) increased from 6 to 22 correct words per minute (CWPM). By comparison, Luminos students were reading more than seven times the national average for Grade 2 Asante Twi in Ghana, based on the latest national Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA) from 2015.
Additionally, letter sound identification increased by 31 correct letters per minute (CLPM), improving from 16 to 47 CLPM. In numeracy, students improved by 28 percentage points in addition Level 1 (mental math) tasks and by 31 percentage points in additional Level 2.
The 2023-24 Luminos program in Ghana significantly improved students’ reading and math outcomes, with girls and boys completing the program with nearly equivalent skills.
In classrooms filled with laughter and curiosity, children like Sulemana are taking their first steps toward becoming fluent readers and beacons of hope for their communities. Sulemana’s journey is a powerful reminder of how education transforms lives, unlocking potential and paving the way for brighter futures.
To learn more about our Ghana program, click here.
Luminos supervisor Kennedy conducts a weekly reading and math assessment with Sulemana. (Photo: Obeng Baah for the Luminos Fund)
