Upper East Region -- The Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC) in the Upper East Region spent over ?114 million on the education of the girl-child last year.

ISODEC is currently working with three District Assemblies, Bawku East, Bongo and Mamprusi West districts to promote girl child education, said Regional Programme Manager of ISODEC, George Akundikiya.

The programme officer for ISODEC's girl-child Education Project (GCEP), Rosemond Kumah said the broad objectives of the project are that for the first year, ISODEC provides counterpart funding of 60%, while the District Assembly provides 40%. In the second and third year, ISODEC provides 50% and 30% while the assemblies contribute 50% and 70% respectively.

Kumah said the project is a wholly Assembly project, but ISODEC comes in to ensure that it is mainstreamed into the Assemblies' educational policies. The project officer said their activities include building capacities of stakeholders, especially the Ghana Education Service, the assemblies, traditional rulers, NGOs engaged in education related field and the student.

ISODEC's other activities in this area are scholarship schemes for poor but brilliant girls and study clubs to assist other girls who may not be within the targeted group. The Programme Officer said in each of the three selected districts, there are 11 study clubs, and these study clubs are run by patrons of the various schools.

ISODEC as part of its scholarship package provides school uniforms, sports and cultural fees. Other activities include the annual science and mathematics laboratory organised for girls, guidance and counselling, and linking them to role models in the communities, Kumah said.

Other support activities ISODEC provides are study tours to some parts of the country, quiz and debates. There are also special packages for in service training of teachers to upgrade their skills and competence. The training and scholarship schemes cover both the basic and senior secondary school levels.