Primary Education in Ghana

Dear Friend of PAAJAF,

Once again, I would like to express our sincere thanks to you for helping us pay schools fees for your two of our children at PAAJAF.  We have conducted research and our intentions is to need to call for partners, sponsors, donors and volunteer fundraisers to team up to help build scholarship school in Gbawe community to give quality education for the underprivileged children and teens in the community. In view of this, I would like to share our findings with you:

The information obtained indicates that public schools in Gbawe are over-crowded. Some elementary schools have up to 65 students per class and there are up to 45 students per junior high school class. Teachers are therefore unable to give individual attention to pupils in normal school hours. Additionally, poverty prevents a significant number of children from staying in school and completing their education. The resulting lack of basic skills makes it difficult for individuals to secure employment. About 45% of Gbawe’s young residents are unemployed. Extreme poverty and low levels of education also impact upon health and ill health further impacts an individual’s ability to acquire and maintain employment. Additionally, people live in poorly structured and over-crowded housing. There is inadequate sanitation and potable water appropriate facilities in Gbawe are almost non-existent. Low education levels, lack of employment, ill health, inadequate sanitation, and over-crowded housing trap individuals and families in a cycle of continuous deprivation.

In addition to the aforementioned obstacles, traditional and cultural beliefs reinforce gender stereotypes that give preference to boys over girls with regard to access to education. Generally, girls share the role of primary care givers with their mothers and often have to work to generate household income, in addition to engaging in daily household chores. This prevents many girls from attending and remaining in school, particularly at the upper primary level.

The Ghanaian government conceived of an education strategic plan for 2010 to 2020 which seeks to:

• eliminate gender and other disparities in the education system, and
• include disadvantaged children in mainstream schools whenever possible.

Additionally, Ghana is pursuing the Millennium Development Goals (universal primary education and gender equality) to ensure that all children attend school and that enrollment for girls and boys is equal.

With the above background information in mind, PAAJAF decided to launch the Scholarship School Projects to provide formal education to deprived children, in addition to courses in adult literacy.

The primary component of the school project is providing scholarships for children at PAAJAF and in the impoverished community. PAAJAF plans to establish an educational institution from elementary to junior high school level that will create an enabling environment in which all children can develop their full potential. The pilot school is to commence at Gbawe as a day care center and elementary school (grades one to six and Junior High School). It is expected that in the first year, the school will support and educate 300 children. To avoid discrimination and ensure equality of access, the school will be opened to all. In the event that the number enrolled is higher than the places in any class, place allocation will be determined based on need and disadvantage.

In view of this, I would like to extend invitation to you for collaboration work to help educate neglected, orphans, and underprivileged children and teens in Gbawe.  We have our detailed proposal for the project at hand if it would interest you to have a look and see what you can do or could help us to find partners, sponsors, donors or volunteers to help on fundraising for the project, we would be much appreciated to you.