Over 1,000 begin GCBE at Tolon

Tolon (N/R), Dec. 4, GNA - One thousand and fifty-three out-of-school children in the Tolon District of the Northern Region have begun classes under the Ghana Complementary Basic Education (GCBE) programme to facilitate their enrollment into the formal education system.

World Education, Ghana, a non-governmental organization is implementing the GCBE programme with sponsorship from the Department for International Development (DFID), and the beneficiaries have been drawn from 38 communities in the District including Yipelgu, Kpendua, Sabegu and Dingomi.

The GCBE programme, seeks to give out-of-school children beyond school starting age (eight to 14) an opportunity to acquire basic literacy and numeracy skills in their mother-tongues (Dagbanli) to enable them to enroll in the formal school system.

Mr Felix Aboagye-Nyarko, Project Director of World Education, Ghana, who spoke at the launch of the programme at Tolon, said volunteers had been trained on the GCBE methodology to facilitate the programme to ensure success.

Mr Aboagye-Nyarko said the classes would run for nine months (October to June) after which the pupils would be in a position to enrol in the formal school system entering between primary three to primary six depending on their abilities.

He said the pupils were provided with learning materials including books, and pencils. He urged authorities at the district to ensure that all was done to facilitate their transition into the formal education system after they completed the GCBE classes.

Mr Seidu Abubakari, District Chief Executive of Tolon said government's policy was to provide equitable opportunities for all to access education hence the GCBE programme.

Mr Abubakari, therefore, urged all to enroll their out-of-school children beyond school starting age into the programme to enable them to transit into the formal education system.

Mr Amoli Abako, Tolon District Director of Education commended all stakeholders for their commitment, which ensured the successful take-off of the programme in the District.

Naa Alhaji Major (retired) Sulemana Abubakari, Regent of Tolon commended World Education, Ghana, for bringing the programme to the District to offer opportunity to out-of-school children to acquire education.

GNA