Tamale, June 8, GNA- The Department for International Development (DFID) of the United Kingdom (UK), is funding a 3.17 million-dollar educational exchange programme between Ghana and the U.K. The programme, which started in January last year, would end in December this year.

Mrs Parissa Sackey Atta, Partnership Coordinator of DFID Global School Partnership (GSP) Programme, announced this at a day's workshop organised in Tamale on Tuesday by the DFID Northern Region Global School Partnership Association under the auspices of the British Council. The exchange programme seeks to provide, guidance, grants, training and professional development to teachers and the beneficiary schools in developing countries and the U.K. Mrs Atta said under the DFID/GSP grants programme, a total of 1.8 million dollars would be spent on 140 reciprocal visits and 170 curriculum projects. She said the DFID/GSP team currently has 11 UK based staff and 14 linked officers in Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, India, Pakistan Vietnam, Trinidad and Tobago among other countries. She said the programme had been supporting pre-school, secondary and special school education.

Mr John J. Soka Northern Regional Chairman of the GSP described the school link programme as "a brilliant idea, which provides the opportunity for people to interact, share experiences and understand each other's culture especially, in the era of globalisation.