FOUR MONTHS after the implementation of the Complimentary Basic Education programme (CBE) in the Upper East Region, educationists and stakeholders have overwhelmingly embraced the programme and pledged their commitment to making it a success.
In October 2013, Afrikids Ghana, a child rights Non-governmental Organization (NGO) in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service launched the CBE programme in the Bongo and Talensi districts to address the issue of high school dropout in the region.
It is estimated that 20,441 children are out of school in the Upper East Region and the CBE programme, a policy by the government of Ghana with financial support from the UK Department for International Development (DFID) was aimed at providing a springboard for children within the ages of 8 and 14 years to get into formal school after a period of complementary basic education.
In the Talensi District, a total of 750 learners made up of 295 females and 455 males were enrolled while 30 facilitators were engaged with 150 Local Committee Members. In the Bongo District, 362 female and 388 male with a total of 750 learners were enrolled while 30 facilitators were engaged with 150 Local Committee Members.
At a conference of stakeholders in Bolgatanga, directors of education from the two beneficiary districts, acknowledged the importance of the grogramme in attempts to encourage all the dropouts to get back to the classroom while serving as motivation for retention.
The Bongo District Director of Education, Mr. Emmanuel Zumakpeh, said the programme was designed to achieve multiple objectives while his colleague from Talensi, Mr. Joachim Faarah said the programme was a driving force that could boost enrollment in the region.
All other stakeholders including a representative of the Regional Director of education, community participating Coordinators, trainers and heads of departments such as Social Welfare, attested to the impact the programme was already making.
Mr. Richard Amoah, Programme Coordinator and a senior management staff fo Afrikids Ghana, said since the implementation of the programme, a lot of achievements had been made and many lessons learnt. According to him, GES was was fully involved in the monitoring of classes and good reception received from other stakeholders including parents.
Mr. Amoah named irregular/late attendance to classes by learners, logistics/capital equipment, and attitude of some parents towards classes as some challenges so far identified.
Country Director of Afrikids Ghana, Mr. Nicholas Kumah, observed that there were still no schools in areas in the beneficiary districts and other parts of the region and therefore urged the directors of education to support him and his staff to ensure something was done about the situation.
He announced that an educational support programme of Afrikids Ghana would be opened for needy children from February to June this year and appealed to education directors and stakeholders to help identify needy children in their areas to benefit from the programme.
By: William N-lanjerborr JALULAH | The Chronicle Newspaper
