By Adiza Bawa
Girls’ education is a deliberate development priority which has contributed in lifting households, communities, and countries out of poverty. In the developed world, girls have a conducive learning environment that enables them to complete their education with the knowledge to access the best opportunities. However, the same cannot be said for the developing world where many girls drop out of school at early stages due to poverty amongst other issues.
According to UNICEF, millions of girls are out of school at the lower levels of education in the developing world.
In Ghana, poverty is a key reason for a parent’s inability to successfully put a girl child through education. The outbreak of Covid-19 has deepened poverty and the effect is already felt in Ghana. Once a girl drops out of school, she becomes vulnerable to teenage pregnancy and child marriage.
In a bid to promote Girl Child Education, the 1996 A-Level year group of Labone Senior High School, LOSA has handed over a refurbished Girls’ dormitory including 50 ceiling fans to the school. The year group also handed over several items worth Ghs 65,000 to mark the Association’s 25th Anniversary.
In a message, the Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, said government is determined to improve education with the introduction of the Free Senior High School inventive curriculum in literacy, numeracy, information technology and an enhancement of E-Learning as well as introduction of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in Ghana.
”Government alone cannot meet the demands for and supply of education, hence, the need for participation by other stakeholders like the Old Students Associations in management of secondary education”.
“In this present world of technological age, a fundamental function of quality education is needed to produce a knowledge based work-force for national development. In the same vein, if the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4; Quality Education, is to be achieved, availability of quality human and material resources for increased productivity becomes critical”.
”It is with this background that the Akufo-Addo led government has greatly prioritized education in his regime. With the introduction of Free Senior High School (FSHS), introduction of inventive curriculum in Literacy, Numeracy, Information Technology, and an enhancement of E-learning as well as the introduction of STEM Academies all across the country to boost STEM education in Ghana, it has become more clear that the government alone cannot meet the demand for and supply of education hence the need for the participation by other stakeholders like the Old Students Associations in the management of secondary education.”
He added that the immense contribution of the old Students’ Association cannot be overlooked in Ghana’s educational system as they assisted in the development of infrastructure, provision of books and other items and the organisation of events aimed at improving bonds between various year groups.
The Minister said it has become more clear that the government alone cannot meet the demands for education facilities, hence the need for participation by other stakeholders like Old Students Associations in the management of secondary education.
Under the GHC65,000 project, the year group undertook carpentry work including changing doors, frames, tiling of washrooms and walls. They also provided drying lines, 40 ceiling fans and water reservoirs for boys and girls dormitories.
Girl’s Dorm uplift:
- Carpentry works (changing of doors and door frames)
- Washroom (floors and walls tiling)
- Provision of drying lines
- Provision of 50 ceiling fans
- Water Reservoirs (two 10, 000 litres Rambo, 1000 Poly Tanks for Boys and Girls Dormitories)
Handing over the items, President of the year group, Mighty Gbeve, urged the students to study hard and pursue their dreams and aspirations.
“On this day we want to give back to our Alma Mater because people built for us and it’s our turn to do the same for others. In consultation with the school Administration and LOSA National Executives, we have completed the following projects at cost of Ghc65, 000 which be handed over to the school,” he said
He enumerated the items which includes; a face-lift of the Girls’ dormitory. Mr. Agbeve expressed optimism that students and management will give the needed care and maintenance to the facilities, and urged the entire student body to pursue their dreams diligently.
“Let me take this opportunity to thank Richard Bluwey (Mystic) for bringing us together several years after leaving school. I can gladly say we have a total membership of 134. To my anyemime who contributed in diverse ways to ensure the successful completion of these projects, I appreciate you. A special appreciation for the Project Fundraising and Publicity committees for the good work done,” he added.
The celebration was themed, “Harmonious relationship with old student’s association-A critical factor in provision of quality education in Ghana”.
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