Support for girls' participation in education by non-governmental organizations in the Northern Region

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to find out whether the popular notion that the presence of many Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the education sector in the Northern Region has resulted in increased enrolment of girls in schools is a myth or a reality. Four districts of the Northern Region, namely, Tolon-Kumbungu, Savelugu-Nanton, GusheguKaraga and the Tamale Metropolis were involved in the study. Also involved were four Non-Governmental Organisations, namely, Christian Children's Fund of Canada (CCFC), Action Aid Ghana, Regional Advisory Information Networks Systems/Campaign for Female Education (RAINS/CAMFED) and the School for Life. Data for the study were obtained through participatory rural appraisal techniques and questionnaires administered to the selected NGOs, interviews conducted on headteachers and a focus group discussion organized for parents of girls who benefited from the interventions ofthe NGOs. The study revealed that girls' enrolment rates increased in the Tolon-Kumbungu District (10% in 2001 and 1% in 200212003), the Gushegu-Karaga District (10% in 2002/2003) and the Tamale Metropolis (3% in 2002/2003). However, there was a decline in girls' enrolment rate in the Savelugu-Nanton District (-8% in 2003). Also, dropout rates remained high and many more girls of school-going age were still not in school. It is therefore recommended that more NGOs liaise with the District Assemblies to decide on how they can step up the participation of girls in schooling in the Northern Region.