Mr. Ibrahim Afazie, Director of Dawah Academy, a non-governmental organization, has said most Muslim communities are weak in both formal education and training.

He said the growing phenomenon was at variance with the real dictates of the Islamic religion.

Mr. Afazie was speaking at a day’s regional forum in Tamale themed “Educating the Girl-child for Nation Development: A Muslim Religious Precepts”.

The forum, which brought together stakeholders in education including civil societies, representatives of religious bodies and the Ghana Education Service, was aimed at sharing ideas and strategising on how to address the challenging trend.

He said “It is time we take bold actions to nurture our children in a more formidable manner than we have been doing and also work hard to improve the right of Muslim girls in our communities”.

Chief Ahassan Amadu, Director of Northern Regional Population Office, said Ghana’s quest to become a middle income country by 2015 could only be attained when illiteracy was reduced.

He said education expands human capabilities and improves economic performances which are vital ingredients in economic growth for achieving sustainable development.

Chief Amadu said both formal and informal education improves human capital stock, enhance labour productivity and contributes to poverty reduction.

He called on parents and teachers to work tirelessly towards enrolment, retention, material support, and keep track of performance of children in school.

Alhaji Abdulai Yahaya, Human Resource Director at the Northern Region Office of the Ghana Education Service, called on Muslims who had attained greater heights in the country to help mentor the youth on the need to be educated.

He said there was low level of education among student with regards to the study of English Language and Arabic due to less contact hours and called on teachers work extra hard to by putting in extra effort.**