A three-year educational development programme dubbed “Partnering for Inclusive Education in Northern Ghana”, has been launched at Busunya in the Nkoranza North District of the Brong-Ahafo Region.

The project would be funded by Star-Ghana, a multi-donor funding organisation with financial support from DFID, DANIDA and European Union (EU).

Madam Catherine Amissah, Manager of educational activities of the project, said at a stakeholders’ forum at Busunya that, the programme would seek to address challenges facing basic schools in the district.

The project will also ensure increased enrolment and retention of school-going children in school through encouraging the youth to at least acquire basic education with more attention on the education of the females, she added.

She said the programme had just started in two districts of Northern Ghana, Wa West in Upper West and Nkoranza North in Brong Ahafo, adding that, the project was expected to benefit a total of 60 schools in the two areas.

Madam Amissah said collaborators in the project included the district offices of education, School Management Committees, Unit Committees, Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs), Traditional Rulers, Religious Bodies, Civil Society Organisations and the Media.

Mr James Appiah-Kusi, Nkoranza North District Director of Education, commended the management of the programme for considering the plight of the district and for the selection and launch of the programme at Busunya.

Mr Appiah-Kusi expressed concern about the increased dropout rate in Junior High Schools in the district and noted that, the project had come at the right time to help address the challenges.

He promised the management that, the project would enjoy the full support of his staff and teachers for its effective implementation.

Mr Stepen Kobom, Coordinator, disclosed that the project would identify 15 schools in the district for the first year and work with the stakeholders through capacity building.

He called on media houses in the district as well as religious leaders and leaders of civil society organisations to join the educational crusade to create more awareness on the project.

The Coordinating Director of the Nkoranza North District Assembly, Mr Emmanuel Kungi, expressed appreciation for the efforts of the various donor agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) offering immense support to the government in enhancing the development of the country.**