Community Members Sensitized On Girl Child Education

Government through the Ministry of Education has noted with concern the wide disparity gap that exists between the enrolment of boys and girls in schools in the country, particularly northern Ghana. As part of efforts to bridge this disparity, 50 percent of various scholarships have been allocated to girls by the assemblies. Meanwhile, a Basic Education Support Programme (BESP) through Information, Education and Communication Campaigns (IEC) has also been instituted by the Girl Child Education Unit of GES to help in that direction. The Upper East Regional Girl Child Education Officer, Madam Rose Akanson disclosed this at a community sensitization programme on girl child education at Tarongo, a community in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region. The BESP programme which was being sponsored by USAID brought together community members, chiefs, elders, role models, teachers as well as officials from the GES among others. Madam Akanson indicated that her outfit attaches great importance to girl child education in the deprived communities and explained that education in those areas is generally hindered by traditional practices and stereotyping. She also mentioned poverty and ignorance on the part of parents as some of the challenges confronting girl child education. According to her the aim of the IEC campaign is to encourage community participation in the quest to increasing girl’s enrolment and retention in schools. This, she added, creates an opportunity for community members to make meaningful contributions on factors that militate against girl child education in the various communities. Madam Akanson also emphasized the need for Ghanaians to give equal opportunity to young people irrespective of their sex stressing that the education of the girl child is as important as that of boys. The Deputy Education Director of Bongo, Mr. Louis B. Asakeya pointed out that education of the girl child should be a major concern to all since government cannot shoulder the responsibility alone. He called on parents to help educate their girl child devoid of discrimination. Mr. Asakeya also bemoaned the practice where parents abandon their children whilst they are in school. The practice, he said, compel the girl child to migrate down south for menial jobs. He pledged his outfit’s support for poor and needy students in the district and charged parents to take the education of their girl child seriously.
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