G.E.S UNDERTAKES WORKSHOP

Ghana Education Service in collaboration with World University Service of Canada (WUSC) has organized a one day capacity Building for 97 Basic School Teachers in the District. The teachers were Girls Base Education Coordinators responsible for the welfare of school going girls in the West Gonja District.

The workshop intended to equip participants with the requisite skills to form, manage and handle Girls Clubs in their respective schools. Thus, the strategies for supporting Girls Clubs to achieve high academic performances were the bases for the training. School Based Coordinators were also trained as Girls Clubs counselors.

However, the District Director of Education, Mr. Charles Akatuk, in his opening remarks, expressed his sincere gratitude to WUSC for giving a helping hand to G.E.S.
The World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is an international NGO that has been in existence since the 1920s but first came to Ghana in 1957.

The vision of WUSC is to foster human development and global understanding through education and training. WUSC believes that “education changes the world’ thus its objectives is to provide education and training to improve livelihoods, balance inequities, integrate vulnerable communities, promote health and foster social economic development.

Nevertheless, in Ghana, WUSC works in the basic education sector with a special focus on girls’ education. It seeks to tackle the low aspiration and achievement of girls, promote access to education and retention of girls in school and provision of life skills training for Girls
Mr. Akatuk exclaimed that, the Ghana Educational system is facing enormous challenges, whereas the Government cannot solve all without all hands on desk, so everybody must do well to put in his or her best for the improvement of girl child education.
He appealed to the participants to take the training serious and make sure they extend their knowledge to the pupils.

On her part the District Girls Education Officer, Madam Mercy Ewuntomah, said the school going girls are very vulnerable in the society, and therefore needs guidance and counseling in order to improve on their ego.
The formation of Girls Clubs, seeks to motivate girls, educate them on their personal rights, build their confidence level and also to give opportunity to club patrons to train and counsel the girls in schools about how to desist from sexual immoralities through activities like debates, quizzes, clean up exercises, and talk shows.
She said social vices like teenage pregnancy drinking and other immoral acts are major causes for low academic performances in the district.

Again, Madame Ewuntomah said there is enormous recorded number of school dropout every year because of teenage pregnancy. She also worn the male teachers who take advantage of the girls in their schools, stressing that, the educational systems has frowned upon teacher-pupil relationships, thus, teachers will be sanctioned when found guilty.
The 97 participants were divided in to two zones, 47 schools in Damongo held theirs on 13th March 2012 whiles 50 schools in Daboya took place on 15th March 2012.

By Shallom Lumor & Ms Regina Atule