Girl enrolment in Nkwanta District is still low

Nkwanta, March 13, GNA - The attraction among parents in the Nkwanta District to send girls to school remains low despite campaigns countrywide to increase female enrolment.

A research on Gender Parity Index (GPI) status between 2001 and 2006 indicates that the gap between boys and girls enrolment is in excess of 9,948.

Mrs Cecelia Addai, Nkwanta District Girl Child Programme Coordinator, said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Nkwanta during a workshop for stakeholders to identify the factors inhibiting girls' enrolment in schools in the area. Nkwanta District Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GNA) organized the workshop that was replicated in the eight circuits of the district with support from UNICEF and the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs.

About 1,200 stakeholders including chiefs, teachers, religious leaders attended the sessions.

Mrs Addai said based on the 2000 population census it was clear that girls were more than boys in the district yet it did not reflect in their enrolment in the schools.

She listed early marriages, pregnancies, lack of role models, large family sizes, ignorance and child labour as among inhibiting factors. Mrs Addai said though women played big roles in the struggle for independence their efforts were not being mentioned.