Introducing a new mapping project
I am really excited to be heading up Expo's GIS project this term, and I can't wait to keep you all updated on the latest developments. As the project is in its infancy, we are still in the development stages, and mostly consists of meetings with Ghana Education Service (GES) and other regional education authorities. We had the first preliminary planning meeting with Ghana Education Service staff a couple of weeks ago and are currently following this up with putting together a formal plan for the first stage of the project. The initial meetings have mainly been focused on sorting out the technical and logistical issues of the project, but as we move forward I am hopeful that we will soon be able to get into some of the cool things that this project will hopefully deliver.
In the long run, I am hopeful that the project will grow to work on larger-scale projects with GES and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (which we are currently in the process of formalizing), to help support Kumasi's education practices. For now, the first stage of the project will focus on evaluating the spatial impacts of Expo's after-school programs. The programs are divided up into different education districts, and so by comparing data from schools in and around each of the districts where Expo run programs, we will hopefully be able to identify key factors and relationships that affects education in the different districts, including the role Expo's programs play.
As we move forward to develop and formalize a project outline I will make sure to keep you all updated, and if you have any questions about the project, please get in touch!
Stephen Hunt is a program associate with a degree in geography.
