Young people in the Bolgatanga Municipality of the Upper East Region, under the Youth on Board Movement, have intensified advocacy to ensure that authorities in the Upper East Region do more to improve the infrastructure situation within basic schools in the region.
The Youth Opportunity and Transformation in Africa (YOTA) established the ‘Youth on Board Movement’ in the Bolgatanga Municipality of the Upper East Region with the aim of mobilizing youth for advocacy regarding challenges after the COVID-19 pandemic in the education sector.
The Youth on Board Movement is a two-year project under YOTA, which focuses on eight municipalities across the country, including Bolgatanga municipality. The project seeks to stimulate youth voices in Ghana’s education response to the Covid-19 pandemic with funding from the Danish Civil Society for Development Fund.
YOTA shortlisted members from youth groups within the Bolgatanga municipality through applications. The representatives were trained to first start the mobilization of youth as part of the 3,000 nationwide targets.
Speaking to Mark Smith on the Day Break Upper East Show, members of the Youth on Board explained the need for advocacy along with its end goals.
Comfort Adongo, a member of the group, explained that over the past few months, the group had undertaken research that highlighted the negative consequences of inadequate infrastructure, particularly chairs in many lower primary classes.
The group then presented the findings of the research to the Municipal Education Directorate and the Municipal Assembly. Leaders of both state institutions received the information, noting that they were fully aware of the situation but could do very little to change it as they were starved of funds.
David Azure, another member of the group who also doubles as a journalist, explained that the situation needs immediate attention, adding that in many schools, classes below class three have no desks.
Timothy Nsoh, another member of the group, explained that the government could not do it all; as such, non-governmental organizations and individuals must do well to support the schools bridge the infrastructure deficit.
Source: A1Radioonline.Com|101.1MHZ|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Bolgatanga|
