Girl Child Education In Nanumba Districts Improved

Girl child education in the Nanumba North and South Districts of the Northern Region of Ghana has improved, following sterling academic performances chalked by schools in the area as a result of the formation of Girls’ clubs that campaigned against girls abuse and gender inequality.

The formation of the clubs also contributed to the bridging of a yawning gender disparity gap that long existed in the two districts as there is currently increased enrolment and retention of girls in most schools.

International Non-governmental Organisation (NGO) ActionAid Ghana in collaboration with its local partner Songtaba, through several years of hard work had made tremendous contributions towards reducing violence against girls in schools in the districts that led to increase in enrolment of girls in school and also improvement in academic performance.

Speaking to this blogger in an interview, Musah Rukaya, a teacher and Girls’ Club Mentor of the Nasamba Primary School, said the initiative by the two organizations had encouraged many girls in the area to enroll and remain in school.

She explained that, the clubs did not only teach good morals and other forms of socialization, but also educated girls about their rights hence increasing their level of confidence that enabled them to rise up and demand their rights.

Available statistics at the Nasamba Primary School indicated that the number of girls enrolled since 2008 outnumbered the number of boys, a phenomenon that was not common especially in most communities in Northern Ghana.  

In the 2008/2009 academic year, the number of girls enrolled was 195 against 182 boys, but in 2009/2010 the number of girls increased to 219 with that of boys marginally increasing to 211. Also, in the 2012/2013 academic year the number of girls further increased to 234 against 227 boys.

The 28 year old teacher made these revelations to this reporter who was part of a team of journalists in Nasamba in the Nanumba North District during a visit to acquaint themselves with the performance of ActionAid and Songtaba with regards to the implementation of their projects.

The Girls Club concept by the two NGOs was initiated under the Stop Violence Against Girls in School (SVAG) through Community Advocacy Teams (CAT), an intervention that contributed positively to enrolment, improved gender parity, enhanced academic performance and educate girls on their basic human rights and personal upkeep.

Nasamba is 18kilometres from Wulensi and 6kilometres from Bimbila. It shares boundaries with Kabilya to the North, Binda to the South, Graikpe to the East and Banvim to the West. The community is predominantly a farming community with yam and maize being the major crops cultivated. Women in this area engage in petty trading, smallholder farming, shea butter extraction and Dawadawa processing. 

A 12 year-old girl, Fuseni Azara of the Nasamba Primary School, also confirmed to Savannahnews the opportunity offered her through the girls’ club to learn new things at several places she visited. According to her, the club helped her severally to achieve academic laurels through reading which has built her confidence level. “They give us books and teach us how to read. Initially I couldn’t read but through annual girls’ camps and clubs, I can now read well. I benefit from the girls club to learn new things I didn’t know, to see beautiful environment and it will also help you to come and tell your colleagues to learn hard and become somebody in future. All these we had it from ActionAid. They also carry us to several cities so I know a lot of places and people” she narrated. 

Azara said through the Girls’ Camps/Clubs, they were taught how to handle their menstrual cycles to prevent them from being disgraced in public. 

Meanwhile, 13 Girls’ Clubs and CATs had been formed in the Nanumba North and South Districts respectively, to strengthen the capacities of pupils particularly girls to be aware of their rights and defend them when abused.