The Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (IEPA), a UNESCO Category II Centre of Excellence for West Africa located at the University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, continues to spearhead efforts on the creation of standards in teaching, intellectual enquiry, students engagement and professional practice. 

The IEPA, in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service (GES) - the Cape Coast Metro Education Directorate, planned activities to commemorate the 2023 International Day of Education. 
The International Day of Education is an annual international observance day dedicated to celebrate the role of education in bringing global peace and sustainable development. This year’s celebration was held on the theme, “To invest in people, prioritize education”. 

Activities to mark the day included, a radio interview on ATL FM in Cape Coast to discuss the significance of the day and the importance of the theme chosen by UNESCO for the celebration. Also, an educational forum was held for students in Cape Coast.

At ATL FM, the Director-General of IEPA, Dr. Michael Boakye-Yiadom and the GES Metro Director for Cape Coast, Mrs. Phyllis Asante Krobea, discussed the significance of the International Day of Education. They also discussed the impact the central region and IEPA as a UNESCO Category II Centre is making to education.

The University Practice Senior High School (UNIPRA) in Cape Coast marked the venue for the celebration of the International Day of Education. A team from IEPA led by the Director-General as well as a team from the Cape Coast Metro Education Directorate met with students at UNIPRA. The team spent time to talk in turns to the students on the importance of prioritizing education on the topic “The Mentor-Mentee Relationship as an investment in the Learner”.

Dr. Michael Boakye-Yiadom, explained that the topic for discussion was inspired by research which denoted that children in some communities are not motivated in having formal education because they do not have mentors and role models in those communities to look up to and inspire them. He indicated that, “many of these kids want to go to school but do not have the needed push to do. With a little push, all these children can be in school”.

He further encouraged all the students and teachers at UNIPRA to act as mentors to children and teenagers who do not go to school in their communities stating that, “by becoming a mentor, you are investing time to push someone your age to go to school. To achieve this, you must build a good relationship with the person, demonstrate honesty, set clear expectations and ensure that you engage the person well. When you can do this successfully, you have developed your leadership skills and become a good leader even among your peers.” 

Speaking at the event, Mrs. Phyllis Asante Krobea, highlighted the importance of investing in education and indicated that, “Education should be considered as the top-most investment opportunity in relation to other investment opportunities available. Education helps people to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge for them to be useful in the society. In effect, education makes people proactive.” 
Dr. Michael Boakye-Yiadom further urged all teachers to guide students to be better mentors to their peers and to lead them by example so that their character encourages others to go to school. 

The students took turns to ask questions and make contributions on how the information shared has shaped their thinking.  One student shared that, “what I learnt today was that my words can make a difference and bring someone back to school. I also learnt that I must not look down on myself or look down at the impact that I can make”. It is instructive to note UNESCO is committed to lifelong learning and ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

IEPA, as a UNESCO Category II Centre,  is also committed to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and joining other UNESCO Educational Centres to celebrate the “International Day of Education” is one way of demonstrating solidarity for a common purpose.

Notably, the International Day of Education is set aside to drive home the commitment of UN member countries when it adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in September 2015 and pledged to recognize the essential role of education for the success of all the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

It is important to also note that the right to education is enshrined in article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The declaration calls for free and compulsory elementary education. The Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted in 1989, further goes to stipulate that, countries shall make higher education accessible to all.