Defilement Increases Drop Out Rate in School

A survey conducted by the Centre for Active Learning and Integrated Development has identified girl defilement and early marriage practices as some major causes of the astronomical increase in girls’ dropout of school in some selected districts of the northern region. These situations have relegated the education of the girl child in the northern region to the background which required the collective responsibility of all stakeholders to ensure that the rural girl child gains high academic laurels.

Mr. Sumani Mohammed Awal, programme coordinator of the Centre for Active Learning and Integrated Development dropped this hint at the inaugural ceremony of a one week annual regional girls camp held in Tamale. He said the rational for the camp which drew about 150 girls from basic schools in Bole, Chereponi, Karaga, Nanumba north and south, Savelugu and Tamale metropolis targeted at promoting girls education in less endowed communities as well as building their confidence levels. Mr. Sumani appealed to parents, guardians and teachers to inculcate good morals in their pupils particularly the girl child to make them become responsible citizens. Miss Augustina Achana, a representative of the participants called on government to place premium on girl child education by sponsoring the girl child education as a means of getting more female teachers in the classroom.

She bemoaned that female students in the nation’s schools have become vulnerable to rape resulting into unwanted pregnancy due to dominance of male teachers in the classroom.

Miss Augustina cited the Nanumba North district where she recounted that out of a teacher population of 208 recorded between 2008 and 2009, there were 166 male teachers against 42 female teachers and that she said was totally unacceptable.

She confessed that they were convinced that having adequate female teachers in schools would keep them safe and encourage their parents to invest in their education.

Miss Augustina chronicled several demands among which she appealed to the district assemblies especially in the affected areas to increase their scholarship quota for female students in teacher training institutions. She also urged the northern regional education directorate to provide enough resources to the girl child education unit to support female teachers working in the region.

She nonetheless commended government for introducing the free school uniform concept, increasing the capitation grant and expanding the school feeding programme as part of measures to encourage enrolment in school.

Alhaji Abudulai Harunah Friday, Mayor of Tamale commended CALID, GRAMEN Ghana, NECIDA and SONGTABA for their forethought and pledged his administration’s support to make them achieve their desirable goal in the area of promoting girl child education.

Action-Aid Ghana, Big Lottery and the Ingram Trust sponsored this year’s regional girl’s camp and activities which marked the weeklong event included street procession, interaction with traditional authorities and a visit to the regional coordinating council.