Implementation of the Community Education Teaching Assistants Module of the National Youth Employment Programme: Outcomes and Challenges in northern Ghana

Abstract

This paper analyses the outcomes and challenges of the Community Education Teaching Assistants (CETAs) module, one of the modules of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) which the Government of Ghana (GoG) started implementing nationwide in 2006 as part of its poverty reduction programme. The paper draws on the livelihood framework for analysing how far the module provides a meaningful and or sustainable means of living, the very core objective of every livelihood. It draws on qualitative data from in-depth interviews and focus group discussions of key personnel and beneficiaries of the programme. It also draws on secondary data, both qualitative and quantitative data for analysis. The residts show that the programme has achieved some modest livelihood outcomes. First, District Employment Task Forces (DELTA Forces) were constituted and reactivated to improve on their performance in implementation of the module. Secondly, the module provided only temporary employment for most CETAs. The majority of CETAs are laid off after two years per their contractual terms ill-prepared to make a sustainable living. Thirdly, the phase out plan to latch CETAs onto the Untrained Teacher Diploma in Basic Education (UTDBE) programme for professional teacher training is benefiting only a few CETAs. These outcomes were largely shaped by challenges in the governance of the programme. To this end, the module largely provides short term relief to CETAs. In the long term, it does not provide a sustainable means of livelihood for most CETAs, except the few beneficiaries of the UTDBE programme. The paper therefore, recommends institutional reforms for improving governance and enhancing financial sustainability of the module at the district level.