Over 27,000 children not in kindergarten in C/R

Cape Coast, May 11, GNA- More than 27,024 children, aged between 4-5 years, expected to be in kindergarten are not in school, posing a major challenge to the Central Regional Education Directorate. The Gomoa district had the highest number of 5,616 children of 4-5 years old not in kindergarten, whiles Awutu Efutu Senya district has the least of 14.

These are contained in the region's 'education sector annual review consolidated report' presented at the second 'regional education annual review meeting' which ended at Cape Coast at the weekend.

The meeting which was attended by District Chief Executives, coordinating directors, district education directors district education planning and budget officer, managers of education units and NGOs was to, among others enhance the assessment of educational status in the region as well as enhance accountability and transparency among the stakeholders and help implementers to appreciate and be responsive to the expectation of stakeholders.

The report, centres on equitable access to education, provision of quality education, effective education management, science and technical and vocational education, and ICT training and financial management and partnership.

It also shows that 7,746 of the estimated 336,764 children in the region who have reached primary school age of 6 -11 were not in primary school, whiles 5,687 girls of the estimated 167,252 girls were also not in school.

According to the report Gomoa, Abura Asebu Kwamankesse, Mfantseman Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem Ajumako-Enyan Essiam and Upper Denkyira districts had more of their girls not in school.

The report also shows that a total of 499 children were enrolled in special schools and units in the region this year as against 477 in 2007, indicating that more children were being identified with various impairments or people are becoming aware of the educational opportunity of such persons and stressed the need to intensify public education on the causes, management and prevention of disabilities through the district education co-ordinators.

On study leave, the report further indicates that only 91 of the 221 application to study mathematics, English/Linguistics, Science and French were approved to proceed on study leave. On school enrolment it notes that the capitation grant has impacted positively on enrolment, teaching and learning and that it has helped basic schools in the Upper Denkyira municipality to procure teaching and learning material.

It however states that the delay in the release of funds by government was hampering the implementation of the policy, and that the three Ghana cedis per child was inadequate, and has therefore led to the abolition of district mock examination which in turn has negatively affected BECE performance of pupils and students in the districts. On the state of primary schools in the region, it indicates that there were congestions in many schools as a result of high enrolment, especially in Cape Coast and Awutu-Efutu-Senya districts.

The report expresses concern that science resource centres and workshops in the region, are also not as functional as expected, and lack of equipment, while the existing ones, are not maintained, thereby making it impossible to meet the needs of their satellite schools.