Ghana’s Mohammed Haroon named Finalist for Africa Education Medal 2024

Ghana’s Mohammed Haroon, a teacher and former politician, has been named among the ten Finalists for the Africa Education Medal 2024.

The Finalists for the Africa Education Medal 2024 are Ahmed Kura, Co-Executive Director, Kenya Drylands Education Fund, Kenya,Angeline (Angie) Murimirwa, CEO, CAMFED, Zimbabwe,Christopher Khaemba, Co-Founder & Director, Nova Pioneer, Kenya,Hakeem Subair, CEO, 1 Million Teachers, Nigeria, Josiah Olusegun Ajiboye, Registrar & Chief Executive, Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, Nigeria, Julian Hewitt, Outgoing CEO, The Jakes Gerwel Fellowship, South Africa, Mohammed Haroon, Principal Education Consultant, Ghana, Nankunda Hope Mwijuka, Executive Director, Raising Teenagers Uganda, Uganda,Olanrewaju Oniyitan, Founder & Executive Director, SEED Care and Support Foundation, Nigeria and Taddy Blecher CEO & Co-Founder, Maharishi Invincibility Institute, South Africa.

Founded by T4 Education and HP, the Africa Education Medal is Africa’s most prestigious education accolade.The Africa Education Medal recognises the tireless work of those who are transforming education across the continent celebrating the stories of those who have lit the spark of change so others will be inspired to take up the torch. It is given to an outstanding individual who has demonstrated impact, leadership, and advocacy in the field of education.

The World Education Medals are prestigious awards that recognizes individuals who have significantly impacted education through leadership and advocacy. Established by T4 Education and HP, these medals celebrate changemakers in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

There are three categories being the Africa Education Medal, Asia Education Medal, and Latin America Education Medal, with one winner selected for each. Nominations were opened to anyone aged 18 and older, emphasizing the importance of improving education quality globally.

The winner of this year’s Africa Education Medal will be invited to attend the World Schools Summit in Dubai on 23-24 November and, in recognition of the urgent need to solve the teacher recruitment and retention crisis to tackle learning gaps, the winner will be entitled to nominate a school of their choice to receive membership of T4 Education’s Best School to Work programme an independent, evidence-based mechanism to certify schools for their culture and help them transform their working environment to attract and retain the best teachers.

Background
Alhaji Mohammed Haroon (Cambodia) is a Ghanaian teacher. Born in 1959 and educated at the University of Cape Coast. He was elected to Ghana’s national parliament in 1992 for the National Democratic Congress party, serving until 1997. He has served as Regional Director of Education for the Volta Region and as Regional Director of Education for the Northern Region. Hailing from a tribe in the North of Ghana where educational challenges remain, his work is focused on improving teaching and learning in the region.

He now serves as an educational consultant for Rising Academies,a company seeking to create the best schools and the most powerful teaching and learning tools for the people who need them most.

Alhaji Haroon is one of the 15 recognised retired directors of education known for reforming secondary education in Ghana. He works to improve mathematics and literacy through Lively Minds and Rising Academy, with a particular interest in enhancing early education. He advocates for human rights, especially for girls' and women's rights, through the African Diversity Network. In the northern part of Ghana, he opened public schools and two colleges of education.

He is also an education adviser to Lively Minds, a non-profit organisation founded on the belief that people can only break the cycle of poverty if they are given the information, skills, and confidence to make changes themselves.

He is the T-Tel ambassador to the five northern regions of Ghana.

Mayank Dhingra, Senior Education Business Leader at HP, congratulated to Ghana’s Mohammed Haroon on being named Finalist for the Africa Education Medal 2024 saying “ his passion and dedication to transforming education has inspired countless others to follow in his footsteps in building a world where quality education is enjoyed by all”.

“HP has a bold goal to accelerate digital equity for 150 million people globally by 2030. Only by joining forces and aligning with NGOs, government, educators and businesses can we truly improve the education environment. The Africa Education Medal brings together all those who are changing the face of African education, whose work we must all learn from if the world is to meet the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030”, Dhingra said.

Vikas Pota, Founder and CEO of T4 Education, said, “The Africa Education Medal honours changemakers where change is needed most. Where learning gaps remain stubbornly persistent and where deep inequalities remain.

“If we are to tackle these colossal challenges, and unlock the continent’s future, we must build a community of leaders from every sphere of society committed to educational transformation. Leaders like Mohammed Haroon. Africa, and the world, has so much to learn from your inspirational story and your vital contribution to the next generation” Vikas said.

Nominations for the Africa Education Medal opened in February 2024 for individuals working to improve pre-kindergarten, K-12, vocational and university education who are either educators or school leaders, civil society leaders, public servants, government officials, political leaders, entrepreneurs, business leaders, or technologists.

In its third year, the Africa Education Medal is the oldest of the three World Education Medals established by T4 Education and HP.

The winner will be announced in October. They will be chosen by a Jury comprising prominent individuals based on rigorous criteria.

About T4 Education
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