Regional News of Thursday, 15 May 2008

Source: GNA

NGO assists basic schools in Northern Region

Tamale, May 15, GNA- Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED), a non-governmental organisation (NGO,) operating in Tamale, has assisted 82 basic schools in 15 districts in the Northern Region with a total amount of GH¢ 98400 towards increase female enrolment. Ms Dolores Dickson, Head of Programmes for CAMFED-Ghana, disclosed this when female volunteer teachers, engaged by the NGO to teach in basic schools in the districts, called on her to commend the NGO for donating 132 bicycles to facilitate their work. She said the donation formed part of the NGO's initiatives to increase female enrolment in the region.

Ms Dickson said the NGO in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service (GES), had engaged 109 female volunteers and peer educators to assist in "bringing back" to the classroom, girls who were out of school to promote girl child education in the region. Ms Dickson said the NGO would extend the campaign to senior high schools and tertiary institutions. She said the NGO played a role in the establishment of Tamale Girls Senior High School (SHS), the only girls SHS in the region. Ms Dickson lamented that the Northern Region was male-dominated and called on stakeholders to support young women to take up responsible positions. "We need to do something about the situation, it is becoming alarming. Males occupy almost every office you go to in the region", she said. Mr. John Kwesi Hobenu, Regional Director of the GES, commended the NGO for supporting female education in the region.