Over 7,000 out -of -school children in U/W enrolled

 A total of 7,175 out- of -school children in the Upper West Region, have been enrolled to commence the Ghana Complementary Basic Education (CBI) programme. The children, aged between 8-14 were selected in six districts, namely : Sissala East, Jirapa, Sissala West,Wa East, Dafiama-Busie-Issah and Nadowli –Kaleo. The 3-year government of Ghana programme, being implemented by Pro-Net North Ghana, a Non Governmental Organization (NGO), is to ensure that children of school going age who are out of school are enrolled into mainstream schools in the selected districts. Under the programme the children will be taught for 9 months using their mother language (L1) after which they will be assessed and absorbed by schools under the Ghana Education Service. Mr. Martin Dery, Country Director of Pro-net North, launching the project at Bulu in the Sissala West District disclosed that 287 facilitators have been recruited to teach in the various learning centers of the selected districts in the Upper West region and Nkranza North in the Brong Ahafo region. He said all the needed teaching and learning materials as well as a conducive learning environment will be provided to ensure the success of the programme. About 120,000 out of school children are targeted at the end of the project. A UNICEF report revealed that over 500,000 children of school going age are out of schools in Ghana. This worrying situation has attracted the attention of the UK government, which through its department of international development is supporting the government of Ghana with funding to reach about 120,000 children out of the number within the 3-year period. Meanwhile an assistant director at the Sissala West District Education Unit, Mrs. Stella Dagbeh, has expressed grave concerns about how some parents in the area force their girls out of school to give them out for marriages. She said the practice has become a norm in the district and advised parents to desist from the act. Mrs. Stella called on all stakeholders to help change the trend.

Source:Citifmonline.com