800,000 out-of-school children to get lifeline

The 800,000 people estimated to be out of school, stands the chance of getting a lifeline to enjoy the benefit of education under the Complimentary Basic Education (CBE) under the Education Strategic Plan 2010-2020.

The CBE initiated in 2006 by the Basic Education Division (BED) of Ghana Education Service (GES) based on evidence that about 25 per cent of school-going children were out of school is yet to be translated into action.

Currently, developments partners including Department for International Development, United Nations Children Education Fund are collaborating with BED are strategising on the implementation of the project.

Mr Fred Birikorang, Backstopping officer of BED revealed this at a two-day conference, which assembled CBE alliance members including Basic Education unit of the GES, Civil Society and development partners to deliberate on quality education in Tamale.

The CBE was an initiative, which seeks to provide quality education aside the mainstream educational system for children between 06-15 years.

He said as part of the preparation an office would soon be established as part of BED.

Mr Birikorang said the initiative would help reduce ‘streetism’ in the urban centres, address regional disparities in education and poverty reduction.

“As a country we need to take such initiative because education is a fundamental human right for every child under the constitution,” he said.

Walking participants through some of the key features, he said the initiative would focus on literacy, numeracy and problem solving and skills oriented as well as community based value approach.

Mr Birikorang said the CBE would resort to the use of mother tongue as medium of instruction and a participatory method of teaching.

Other characteristics, he said would be effective monitoring and supervision of teaching and learning in a period of nine months, adding that the learners after the programme would be mainstreamed.

Source: GNA