Organisations to improve education in Northern Regions

Bolgatanga, Aug. 28, GNA - Five organisations have come together to complement government's effort at improving education in the three Northern Regions They are the National Service Secretariat, British Volunteer Service Overseas (VSO) and three Non-Governmental Organisations, Pronet Ghana, Integrated Development Centre (ISODEC) and Link Community Development.

The programme dubbed: "Tackling Education Needs Inclusively" and expected to commence this year, is aimed at increasing school enrolment, retention rates and ensure the smooth graduation of transition of pupils from the basic level to Junior and Senior High schools. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency on Friday, the Talensi-Nabdam District Coordinator of the National Service Scheme, Mr Michael Zuri stated that the five year project was being sponsored by Comic Relief of United Kingdom.

He said it would be implemented on pilot bases in the Talensi-Nabdam District in the Upper East, Jirapa in Upper West and West Mamprusi District in the Northern Region.

He indicated that after the successful implementation of the project it would be replicated in all districts particularly in the three Northern Regions to improve the educational standard. He noted that the National Service Secretariat and the VSO would provide manpower in the form of teaching staff and other technical support whilst Pronet, which is into community development, would empower parents with income to under take ventures to support their children in school. He said ISODEC would embark on effective advocacy methods to encourage parents to send their children to school to increase enrolment and ensure that school children were retained in school. Mr Zuri stated that the National Service Secretariat would embrace the project and help address some of the problems confronting the educational sector in the area. He also entreated the direct beneficiaries of the project including the district assemblies and traditional authorities to support the implementation of the programme.