GNAT calls for quality public education to reduce child labour

The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT)
on Thursday called for quality public education to help reduce the problem
of child labour in Ghana.
“GNAT is of the view that a child who is in school full time is more
likely not to engage in child labour, hence expanding access to free and compulsory education is crucial to reducing child labour,” a statement signed
by Mrs Irene Duncan-Adanusa said.
The statement issued ahead of the World Day against Child Labour which falls on June 12 said available statistics showed 39 per cent of children
in Ghana engaged in economic activity with over 1,031,220 out of the number under 13 years.
“GNAT as a teachers' organization, recognizes education as the cornerstone of national development. Education represents an invaluable investment in human capital. Ghana cannot develop without ensuring and delivering the very best of education for its citizens.”
GNAT, while acknowledging government's effort to improve the rate of access to education in the country with the introduction of the Capitation Grant and the School Feeding programme, urged government to further improve classroom conditions, motivate qualified teachers, provide necessary books and other educational materials without which quality public education would still elude Ghanaians.
The Association also called on parents to discard the notion that government's capitation grant encompassed everything the child needed to attend and stay in school and endeavour to provide basic needs including school stationery and uniforms to make them comfortable in school.
“We wish to appeal to all who are interested in the development of the society to join in the crusade against child labour. Let us all continue to do whatever we can to ensure that children of school going age remain in school.”
The statement informed the public that GNAT would celebrate this year's World Day against Child Labour with a community durbar at the South Ablekuma Sub-Metro office of the Ghana Education service.