FCUBE capable of reducing poverty - MCE

Dormaa-Ahenkro (B/A), Sept. 28, GNA - Mr Vincent Oppong Asamoah, Dormaa Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), has said that the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) policy is capable of reducing the current high illiteracy rate if given the needed impetus. He noted that since the inception of the FCUBE, government had never relented in rolling out interventions to ensue the successful implementation of the policy and what was left was society's commitment towards the programme.

Mr Asamoah made the observation when he addressed a forum at Dormaa-Ahenkro to mark this year's International Literacy Day celebration that was on the theme: "Empowering Vulnerable Groups with Literacy", at Dormaa-Ahenkro.

It was jointly organised by PAMOJA, a coalition of 28 non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) and ACTIONAID, Ghana, and attended by members of REFLECT circles and traditional authorities in five REFLECT Communities in the Municipality. The REFLECT circles use literacy classes to identify, discuss and prioritize the development needs of communities and with the help of the two NGOs and traditional authorities bring development projects to the communities.

Through this process, Nsesereso, a REFLECT Community in the Municipality now has six separate places of convenience, a classroom block and a police station under construction. Nana Brafo Ababio, 52, chief of the town, has passed through the REFLECT to enter the regular school system and is preparing to take the 2011 Basic Education Certificate Examination. Mr. Asamoah stressed that Government interventions including the Capitation Grant, Free Text and Exercise Books, Free School Uniforms and the School Feeding Programme have encourage parents to send their children to school. He said: "If in the face of all these government interventions, we still wish that majority of us should remain illiterate then we are failing in our obligation as a people to develop and acquire our rightful place in the community of nations". Mr. Asamoah said the Dormaa Municipal Assembly spends 60 per cent of its revenue each year on education to ensure that children of school going-age attended school. He appealed to individuals and NGOs to support schools in the rural areas to enhance teaching and learning.