Poor school enrolment in Bawiesibelle despite capitation grant.

Bawiesibelle (UW), Dec. 4, GNA - The Bawiesibelle primary and junior secondary schools in the Sissala East District of the Upper West Region still could not enroll children to attend school despite the high child population rate in the area and the payment of capitation grant by the government.

As a result, the Bawiesibelle Development Association, which was formed a year ago, has bought assorted school items for the village school to encourage enrolment and general education in the area. Mr. Bahilu Ayarna, president of the Bawiesibelle Development Association who announced these when they presented school items and a motorbike valued at 60 million cedis to the school, said parents were either ignorant about education or simply unwilling to send their children to school for formal education.

The Association presented a Honda Motorbike, 1,069 assorted books in English language, Mathematics, Social Science, Integrated Science, four footballs, two sets of Jerseys, three volleyballs, one netball and 11 pairs of football boots.

He wondered why a population of about 3,500 people with children of school going age, making up more than half the population was unable to register up to 300 children in school. " Is it not a mockery to have more than 2,000 children in this village and yet we have only 19 children from junior secondary one to three"? He asked.

Mr. Alfred A. Yang, an Assistant Director of Education in-charge of supervision in the Sissala East District commended the Association for their contribution towards the education of children in the area. He said it was only when parents and teachers recognized their roles in the education of children that standards would rise and have a positive impact on society.

He appealed to other communities to emulate the people of Bawiesibelle to support their children to grow up as self-reliant and responsible citizens in society.

Mr. Mohammed Abudulai Ayarnah, Public Relations Officer of the Association promised that the association would continue to provide the needs of the school children to promote quality education in the area. Bawiesibelle is a village of over 100 kilometres from Tumu the District capital and is often cut off from other nearby towns during rainy seasons due to the bad road network and many rivers overflowing their banks.