Dr. Brobst Visits Ghana with the ACSI Accreditation Team

When you read this, I will have just landed back in Vienna after my weeklong visit to Accra, Ghana. I had the privilege of leading an ACSI accreditation team at a growing school that has now expanded to two campuses. We were a small team, with only four of us involved in the visit, so our week was super busy. The staff and families there are delightful and have a true heart for Christian education.

Visiting Ghana was a bit different from my fall trip to Senegal. To go to Ghana I needed a visa and proof of a yellow fever vaccination. Risk of malaria was also a bit higher even though they are very close in proximity and on the coast. In Senegal, many spoke French, whereas in Ghana, English is the official language. Back in December, the weather was warm in Senegal, but arriving in Ghana in April placed the temperature above 30 degree C. Boy, that was a shock to my system!

So what did we do all week? The accreditation team met with members of the different constituents of the school: students, parents, faculty, staff, administrators, and board members. They shared what they believe the school does well and areas where there is room for improvement. We visited every teacher’s classroom and poured over all of their documentation, asking questions for clarification. Accreditation really is quite a comprehensive process.
All during the week, we enjoyed learning about what God is doing at their school and heard stories of His faithfulness to them. ACSI schools are our sister schools. Going on an accreditation visit like this reminds us that there are others around the world who struggle with the same things. The visiting team probably receives as much encouragement as does the team at the school. It truly is a special time of serving one another as we hold each other accountable to strive for excellence in all that we do.