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Ghana can overcome gender disparity in education - MP

By Myjoyonline.com
Politics Ghana can overcome gender disparity in education - MP
APR 23, 2015 LISTEN

Member of Parliament for the Gomoa Central Constituency Rachel Appoh says she believes that Ghana can overcome gender disparity in education if the country frowns on gender-based violence in schools.

She noted that gender-based violence undermines the right to education and presents a major challenge to achieving gender equality in education.

She said this at the annual global forum held for Women in Parliament in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The former Deputy Minister of Gender and Social Protection indicated that the education of an individual, especially the girl child cannot be underestimated.

Promoting the education of girls, in her view, will support the growth of civil society democracy and political stability allowing people to learn about their rights and how to exercise them.

With girls accounting for 53 percent of the 61 million children of primary school age who were out of school globally in 2010, Mrs Appoh noted that there is still more to be done.

She commended the government of Ghana for its commitment to ensuring gender priority in its education policy.

She said Ghana has attained a one to one gender parity ratio.

Through Government, over 92 thousand girls have benefitted from the take home ration programme in the Upper East, Upper West and Northern region of the country.

Under the global partnership for education program, 55,000 girls in Junior High School received scholarships, school uniforms, sandals, bags and stationery.

In 2014, the government of Ghana introduced the Complementary Basic Education (CBS) program. Under this program, 24,117 out-of-school children were enrolled, she said.

She believes that the distribution of 6 million textbooks, 30,000 computers by Government will also serve as a form of motivation for students.

This in her view will create the necessary opportunity for all children of school-going age especially the girl child to bridge the gender gap and ensure equal education.

She said the government is creating the necessary opportunities for all children of school-going age especially the girl child so as to bridge the gender gap and ensure equal and quality education.

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