Girl Child Education Unit checks dropout rate

The Girl Child Education Unit of the Ghana Education Service (GES) is embarking on a programme in communities and schools in the Upper East Region to curb the spate of girls’ dropout rate in schools in the Region.

Some of the communities include Pusu-Namongo, Nyorkukor, Sherigu, Siniesi and Tarongo.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview after one of the sensitization programmes held at Pusu-Namongo in the Talensi Nabdam District, the Acting Regional Girl-Child Officer, Mrs Rose Akanson, stated that a research conducted by her outfit revealed that majority of the girls dropped out at the basic school level in the Region.

She said that informed the Girl Child Education Unit to organise sensitization programmes involving community leaders, parents, chiefs, Assembly members and opinion leaders.

According to her, some parents withdrew their daughters from school for early marriages so as to collect dowry that is in turn used by their male sons as dowry for their wives.

“The parents also claim that when they take care of their daughters in School they would graduate to work and send their wealth to their husbands’ homes”, she said.

Mrs Akansan said another major challenge confronting the girl-child education was that they were overburdened with house chores and that affected their academic performance.

“Community Based Gender Training Manual is used to train parents and community members to help curb this problem”, she added.

Madam Gladys Seidu, District Girl Child Education Officer of Talensi Nabdam District, advised the parents to give equal attention to the education of their daughters, saying that most girls who are taken care of contributed to the welfare of their families.

She said it was sad that some parents refuse to sell some of their cattle to pay for their children’s school fees particularly the girl-child.

Source: GNA