By Jones Anlimah
Plan International Ghana has donated over 13,300 textbooks and 3,300 school bags, estimated at a value of over Ghc1.7 million to over 14,200 schoolchildren in its operational areas in the Volta and Oti regions.
The donation of educational materials is expected not only to enhance access to quality learning materials but also to aid in the academic development of beneficiary children.
Plan International Ghana, has been operating in the Volta and Oti regions since 2008. The organisation has been supporting children, particularly those from the most marginalised homes to improve their lives as well as members of their various communities.
It has partnered with other stakeholders to assist a total of 66 communities with sponsorship and grant-funded programs anchored by its 2021-2025 Country Strategy in its Operational Areas through its Southern Programme Influencing and Impact Area initiatives.
Beneficiary municipalities and districts include Hohoe, Afadzato South, and South Tongu all in the Volta Region, and Guan and Jasikan in the Oti region.
Over the years Plan International Ghana has partnered with District Assemblies and Regional Coordinating Councils to improve teaching and learning outcomes through improved school infrastructure, teaching and learning materials, provision of scholarships for needy children, teacher capacity building, School Management Committee capacity building, provision of institutional latrines and water, health education, child protection among others.
The distribution of the 13,360 approved textbooks in English Language, Mathematics, Integrated Science, Social Studies, and ICT and the provision of 3,370 school bags to school children in 27 Non-GALOP schools in the 5 districts in both Volta and Oti regions forms part of Plan International’s major interventions in the 2023 Financial Year.
Presenting the items to beneficiaries, the Country Director for Plan International Ghana, Mr. Solomon Tesfamariam, said his outfit, has invested a total of Two Million, Seven Hundred and Twenty-Eight Thousand Ghana cedis to improve the quality of education for 28,552 children in its Operational Areas.
He outlined other interventions being undertaken in Sanitation and Hygiene to improve the living conditions of marginalised communities in its Operational Areas. “We will support Ghana Education Service to undertake role model outreach programmes in order to motivate children especially girls to strive for higher education.
Plan International Ghana is also implementing two grants projects in Water, Sanitation Hygiene, and child protection in the Jasikan Municipality. This project aims to improve Water and Sanitation in schools and communities and help tackle root causes of child abuse.” he said
The Volta Regional Director of Education, Mr. Francis Agbamadi commended Plan International Ghana for the gesture and added that with assistance from stakeholders like Plan International Ghana, the Volta region has recorded significant improvement in gender parity in education.
“The gender parity situation in the Volta Region particularly in the second cycle schools currently stands at 112. This means that if you pick every 100 male students you will have 112 girls. The situation is also that you go to some schools and the girls are about two-thirds of the population. One of the implications is that in the future a lot more girls will occupy leadership positions once they have acquired skills, they will be working and that will make them contribute towards the development of the region.” Mr. Agbemadi said.
The Southern Programme Influencing and Impact Area Manager of Plan International Ghana, Mr. Sulemana Gbana said Plan International Ghana’s commitment to educational empowerment is evident through their consistent efforts to improve the lives of children in its operational areas.
According to him, the donation marks another significant step in their mission to foster educational growth and development among underprivileged youth. “The focus we are looking at are four main areas that are defined by our Country Strategy Objectives. We are looking at quality and inclusive basic education, we are also looking at enterprises that will also support the youth in skills training to improve their income level. We also look at Water and Sanitation as well as the Adolescent’s Reproductive Health and Rights as well as child protection to ensure that children grow up in a protective environment” Mr Gbana noted.
With access to these additional learning materials and school bags, students are now better equipped to pursue their studies with enthusiasm and dedication for a possible brighter future.