Nadowli (Upper West) - World Vision International, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in collaboration with the Nadowli District Assembly on Monday established the first ever district education endowment fund in the Upper West Region.

The fund when realised would, among other, bridge the yawning gap between pupils in the South and Northern sector of the country, improve infrastructure, and motivate teachers to give of their best for the general improvement of education in the district.

Apart from that, funds would also be made available to cater for brilliant but needy children to pursue the education to the highest level.

James Asedem, Programme Manager of World Vision International (WVI)) at Nadowli said the establishment of the fund formed part of the activities of the organisation ''to give hope to the hopeless and help to the helpless''.

He said the organisation has since 2001 sponsored a total of 135 students ranging from basic to the tertiary levels from the District and would from now extend sponsorship to mostly orphans and very needy students.

Sedem said the organisation had also initiated a ?104 million girl-child project to assist girls to step up their education and to reduce the perennial female drop-out rate in the schools of the District.

Mrs. Pauline Ningkpeng, Nadowli District Chief Executive said apart from sponsoring students to pursue their education in the District, World Vision had also constructed eight day care centres, one girls hostel and staff quarters for Queen of Peace Secondary School, rehabilitated nine primary and junior secondary schools.

She said the organisation also provided 250 dual desks for eight primary schools, provided textbooks for the entire District, supported teacher/students wards and provided three bore-holes to Wogu, Jang and Bussie communities.

Mrs. Ninkpeng, said WVI had also assisted the District schools to improve enrolment by providing meals in 33 basic schools of the District. She said the Nadowli District Assembly, through the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs last year disbursed a total of ?75m to 150 women farmers and would increase that amount this year and extend it to other women.

The appeal for fund for the seed-fund for the launched fund realised a total of ?30.1 million cash and pledges.