First cohort of Educational Exchange Programme Ends Successfull

First cohort of Educational Exchange Programme Ends Successfully

The Kalpohin Senior High School (KALISCO) in Tamale on February 15 welcomed the first cohort of students and teachers from the Amsterdam Liberal Arts & Sciences Academie (ALASCA) for our educational exchange programme.

Spearheaded by Savana Signatures, the exchange programme is promoting sustainable partnerships between educational institutions in Ghana and the Netherlands while promoting knowledge sharing and diverse cultural experiences.

The ALASCA delegation received a rousing welcome when they arrived at campus of KALISCO on February 16 to meet their counterparts for the week-long programme which saw them engage in a variety of activities and events that led to the sharing of knowledge and cultural experiences as well as learning and teaching methodologies.

The cultural experiences commenced with a visit to the Sagnarigu Chief Palace where the delegation from ALASCA and KALISCO spent half-day at the feet of the Paramount Chief, Naa Ambassador Yakubu Abdulai, to learn about Dagbon history and tradition, while the Dutch shared insights into their cultural heritage and country. The visit reinforced the programme’s goal of promoting cultural diversity and mutual respect.

The ALASCA delegation also curated a mini event to showcase some Deutch food, giving their KALISCO counterparts a glimpse of their meals as well as the opportunity to taste. The event also offered the Ghanaians the chance to learn the history and culture of the Deutch people.

A key aspect of the exchange programme was the opportunity for the ALASCA delegates to visit the homes of their Ghanaian counterparts, gaining firsthand insight into the daily lives and customs of the Dagomba people. From traditional foods to family dynamics, the visits provided invaluable insights into northern Ghana culture.

Also, a workshop on religious tolerance in Ghana, focused on the nuances of Tamale, was organised for the delegation from both countries. Delivered by Dr….., it highlighted how Christians, Muslims and traditionalists have coexisted peacefully over the years, a situation that has promoted inter-religious marriages. It offered the Deutch a deeper appreciation of the nuances of Ghanaian society, particularly in northern Ghana.

The cultural experience was climaxed with a communal cooking experience, where the Dutch students and teachers had the rare opportunity to prepare indigenous meals of the Dagomba people in a village setting. Under the guidance of Duduhgu workers, they cooked and savoured dishes such as yaankahanda with yama, dawadawa jollof, tuo zaafi and baobab leaf soup with dried herrings. The experience, according to most of them, was one of the major highlights of the activities they engaged in.

In the area of education, the exchange programme afforded both Ghananaian and Deutch students and teachers the opportunity to share and experience teaching and learning methodologies from the two countries. The teachers had a series of workshops to compare teaching methodologies with the view to helping shape how lessons are taught.

The students from ALASCA also actively participated in classroom sessions at KALISCO, giving them firsthand exposure to Ghanaian educational practices, especially teaching and learning.

Meanwhile, as part of the programme, the delegation from ALASCA visited the Red Clay Art Studio, Mole National Park and the Larabanga Mosque.