Over the years, Ghana has made remarkable progress in promoting girl-child education.
From the time of independence, education has been recognized as a powerful tool for national development.
However, in the past, many girls in Ghana faced serious barriers to schooling, such as poverty, early marriage, teenage pregnancy, and cultural beliefs that favored boys’ education over that of girls.
Through deliberate policies of successive governments and support from international, religious, civil, and non-governmental organizations, Ghana has significantly improved access to education for girls.
One of the major turning points in Ghana’s educational development was the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE), which was introduced in 1996 for all basic school-aged children to receive free, quality basic education by the year 2005 throughout the country.
This policy was a constitutional mandate and aimed at ensuring that all children, especially girls, had access to free and compulsory basic education.
This was at a time when Ghana’s national poverty rate in the mid-1990s was significantly higher than it is today, with the poverty headcount estimated to be slightly below 40% in 1998 and 1999, having dropped from approximately 52% in 1991 and 1992.
Later, the Capitation Grant Scheme, introduced in 2005, reduced the financial burden further on parents by removing school fees at the basic level of education in Ghana.
More recently, the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) Policy, launched in 2017, has enabled thousands of girls to continue their education beyond the junior high school level.
These policies have greatly increased enrollment and reduced the gender gap in schools.
In the same vein, more girls’ schools have been established all over Ghana to give easy access for girls to attend school in their localities without having to struggle for their place with other girls in their communities.
In addition to government efforts, several organizations have played important roles in supporting girl-child education for the past three decades.
Organizations such as Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED), UNICEF, and others have provided scholarships, mentorship programs, learning materials, and advocacy campaigns that encouraged more girls to stay in school.
The Ministry of Education has also implemented gender-focused strategies to promote equality in education and protect girls from discrimination and abuse within the school environment.
As a result of these combined efforts, Ghana has seen a steady increase in girls’ enrollment and completion rates at the primary and junior high levels, where girls used to drop out.
Today, more girls are transitioning to senior high schools and even tertiary institutions than ever before.
There is also growing public awareness about the importance of educating girls, not only for their personal development but also for the growth of the nation.
A large number of educated women occupy decision-making and powerful positions today, contributing significantly to economic development, improved health outcomes, and stronger families.
Despite this progress, some challenges still remain.
In some rural communities, poverty continues to prevent girls from attending school regularly.
Teenage pregnancy and child marriage in some parts of Ghana also interrupt the education of many young girls.
Additionally, gender stereotypes sometimes discourage girls from pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects.
Addressing these challenges requires continued collaboration between the government, communities, parents, and development partners.
At this juncture, I have no doubt that Ghana has come a long way in promoting girl-child education.
Through strong policies, supportive programs, and increased awareness, many barriers that once limited girls’ access to education, though not taken away completely, have been significantly reduced.
However, sustained efforts are still needed to ensure that every girl in Ghana has equal access to quality education and the opportunity to achieve her full potential.
Happy Independence Day to all participating schools, especially all my girl schools and girls who defied odds to be in school.
Author: Obaasima Serwaa Akoto, Senior Broadcast Journalist, Angel Broadcasting Network
