GES implements project to retain girls in school

Sekondi, Dec. 23, GNA - The Girls' Education Unit (GEU) of the Ghana Education Service (GES) with support from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), is implementing a project to improve the enrolment and retention of girls in schools in 14 deprived communities in the country.

A press release issued by the Western Regional GEU in Sekondi on Friday, mentioned the communities as Pawa and Krachi Akura in the Nkwanta District and Gyaesayor and Worenja in the Krachi District. The rest are Boniafo and Kumfa in the Atebubu District, Kajai and Kamampa in the Pru District, Akyeremade and Nkatikrom in the Sene District, Metemano and Adiembra in Juabeso District and Brenu-Akyinim and Agyeikrom in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo Abrem District. The release said girls were still lagging behind boys in the enrolment and retention at school in the deprived districts in the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Central, Eastern and Western Regions.

It said the situation was so, despite the implementation of the Accelerated programme for Enrolment of Girls in those area initiated by UNESCO in collaboration with GEU in April 2004.

The release said illiteracy and poverty of parents and guardians have been identified as the factors militating against retention of girls in school.

It said the project would empower parents especially mothers economically to enable them meet the basic needs of their children. The release said some of the funds for the project would be used to train members of women groups and provide them with equipment to undertake income - generating activities.

It said the income-generating activities included bee-keeping, grasscutter rearing, batik, tie and dye, soap making, cassava and maize processing, fruit juice extraction and fruit drink preparation and pepper and groundnut farming.