Awese Kabah was an Octogenarian, who was full of interesting stories and a good companion to many who were eager to listen to stories of pre-colonial days.
Mr Kabah who died in 2004 had a lot of tales about how and why the education of women was neglected in the past.
He used to recount the damning views he had on why the girl-child should not be educated since to him male children were superior at all stages of life including education.
According to Mr Kabah, who had eight wives, women were the worst enemies to males and were only fit for the kitchen.
His radical views changed later in life as he grew up in Manyoro, a village in the Kassena/Nankana District of the Upper East Region.
Education refined his chauvinist thoughts as the few females in his class competed favourably with the male counterparts and even surpassed them at times.
Thankfully the Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED-Ghana), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) has launched a national campaign to promote girl child education.
Although many gender activists and institutions have advocated women inclusiveness in all sphere of life for the development of the country, the role of CAMFED in this direction stands out.
The organisation has taken a giant step to fully and adequately give quality education and lifelong training to fulfil the dreams and goals of many young women from poor homes, especially those from the rural areas, thus creating for them a good future.
Starting its operation in the country in 1998 in the Northern Region, it has expanded its tentacles to the Upper East, Upper West and Central Regions because of the endemic poverty in these areas.
It aims at reducing poverty, eliminate school-drop out, increase employment opportunities for the girl-child and curtail social marginalisation. It has also boosted the confidence of many girls and enhanced the decision-making process of women at the family and community level.
CAMFED, a UK-based international NGO with branches in Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe has supported 131,348 students directly to go to school while 26,176 received bursary supports such as school fees, uniforms, bags and other stipend that would encourage the girls to stay in school.
Aside 26,176 girls have been supported through secondary school with a full scholarship while a 59,895 students and community members have been trained in financial literacy. This year alone the NGO had given scholarships to 16,000 girls.
Also 1,488 businesses have been set up by young women who received seed money after being trained in financial literacy. Selection of beneficiary girls from the 721 schools in 30 districts are based on merit but one basic condition is that such persons must be known to be in need.
These tremendous achievements received commendation from the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Naa Oye Lithur but according to Mrs Delores Dickson, Executive Director of CAMFED-Ghana says the best is yet to come.
Access to quality education is the major interventions of CAMFED. It also provides teaching and learning resources to partner schools to improve the learning environment and career guidance, counselling and internships through holiday camps to ensure the full development of the child.
It has also devoted funds in teacher training and skills development to improve the quality of teaching and mentoring.
CAMFED has decided to create one umbrella body called “CAMA” which is a network of CAMFED’s beneficiaries to enable them learn and share ideas.
Ms Celestine Sitsofe Dordoye, a beneficiary of CAMFED told the Ghana News Agency that her life would have been miserable without the support, explaining that her father refused to take care of her when she got pregnant mid-way during senior high school (SHS).
She said she was provided with her basic needs and school fees from the SHS to the university where she is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree.
Ms Dordoye was full of praise to the organisation that gave her the best in life, adding that her confidence level has improved through the exposure.
Abudu Rahinatu, who received support during her training college education, graduated in 2009 and is currently working as a teacher.
Ghana is one of the countries in Africa making significant impact in the human development index aimed at meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) with education being one of the cardinal targets.
Achieving the international standards of universal education could quadruple the attainment of other MDGs.
The United Nation’s Girl’s Initiative gives a positive picture about the country’s education from 2005 when the capitation grant was introduced after the abolishment of school fees.
It said: “Enrolment went up from about 500,000 students in 2004-2005 to more than 800,000 in 2005-2006, an increase of 67 per cent. During the same period, the primary net enrolment rate increased from 59.1 per cent to 68.8 per cent, while net enrolment at the junior secondary level increased from 31.6 per cent to 41.6 per cent. The increase in enrolment was higher for girls than for boys, thus further narrowing gender gaps.
“The national primary gender parity index has improved from 0.93 to 0.95. A similar trend is observed in the poorest and most remote areas, confirming that abolishment of school fees benefits the poor.”
The worrying trend since enrolment increased the yawning gap between pupil-teacher ratio aside infrastructural difficulties.
These two factors have created over-crowding to the extent that a single teacher handles 134 pupils per class as was the case at Samlibouku Junior High School in the Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo District.
Government must reduce the negative social and cultural perceptions about formal education, especially for girls especially in the northern part of the country, where poverty level is high.
The inability of parents or guardians to bear the cost of education, including uniforms, stationery and food, as well as the opportunity cost of sending girls to school must also be addressed by government at all levels.
Also the long distances children trek to school, too few facilities and a lack of child-friendly environment available in many public schools needs to be factored into the county’s educational planning.
Ghana as a country can only actively hold its chest out among nations when its educational system is fully developed through policies and financial commitments.
There must be targeted construction and rehabilitation of schools, classrooms and other facilities, such as separate toilet facilities for girls and boys.
The promise by the Government to expand educational infrastructure and construct 200 SHS is long overdue.
The Executive is expected to train teachers to give quality tuition to fill the huge pupil-teacher ratio in the country, hence the need for the fulfilment of the pledge to establish 10 additional teacher training colleges nationwide.
Source: GNA feature by Paul Achongo Kwode
