The role of non-governmental organizations in expanding access to and participation in basic education in the bongo district

Abstract

This study looks at the role of Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in expanding access to and participation in Basic Education in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region of Ghana. Basic school teachers, children in programme, officials of NGOs, District Education Office (DEO) Staff and Community members constituted the population. In all, the sample size of the study stood at two hundred and thirty (230). Data were gathered using questionnaires and interview guides. Analysis of data was also done using the descriptive statistics of the statistical package for social science. (SPSS). The major findings of the study are that, NGOs give special assistance to children in programme such as books, pens and payment of medical bills. Challenges that face NGOs include inadequate funding, access to land and inadequate commitment on the part of community members. Some of the interventions of NGOs in the area that need improvement include, adequate provision of teaching and learning materials and the need to extend school feeding programmes to the JHS level. Based on the findings therefore, the recommendations put forward include the fact that, NGOs need to diversify their sources of funding by looking at ways of generating income internally to implement their work plans. There is also the need for NGOs to channel their energies more towards the provision of teaching and learning materials as well as regularly organizing capacity building workshops for Basic School Teachers and Staff of the DEO. Finally, there is the need to extent feeding programme to Junior High Schools.