Mr Joseph Guo, Tolon/Kumbungu District Director of Education has attributed illicit sex and sexual harassment of schoolgirls by teachers to the high school dropout rate among girls in the area.

The development could also put girls at the risk of becoming pregnant especially at the basic level and contracting HIV/AIDS, Mr Guo told a parade of school children to mark Ghana's 45th Independence Anniversary at Tolon on Wednesday.

He said a committee had been formed to investigate all reported cases of illicit sex between teachers and girls and gave the assurance that such cases would be referred to the police. The day was on the theme "Delivery of quality education, truancy and absenteeism, the way forward."