GIVE SPECIAL FOCUS TO MARGINALISED GROUPS ...SAYS FIRST LADY

First lady Mrs. Lordina Mahama has stated that the surest way to ensure universal access to education is for parents and other stakeholders in the education sector to give a special focus to the most vulnerable and marginalized groups in the country.

This include children living in fragile and conflict-affected areas, children with disabilities, and girls who are most likely to be affected because of inadequate learning materials and unsuitable education infrastructure.

Mrs Mahama who was addressing a durbar when the Lordina foundation presented medical supplies and equipment to the Tuobodom Health Centre in the Brong Ahafo Region reminded all about the importance of education which is one of the most important investments a country can make in its people and its future to eradicate poverty, and create wealth.

The First Lady asserted "Most especially, early childhood education and development. It is a known fact that easy access to education liberates generations of any family from the shackles of poverty".

She said education is a basic right, and is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child hence every girl and boy should have the right to a quality education so that they can have more chances in life, including employment opportunities, better health and also to participate in the political process.

According to the 2015 report of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), that sub-Saharan Africa remains the home to the largest out of school population of children in the world.

Even though Ghana has achieved universal enrolment of children in primary school, there is still a significant number of children, especially girls, in the rural areas that are not in school.

This the First Lady noted informs her call for equal opportunities to education for every child when she addressed a large gathering of chiefs and queen mothers, and other dignitaries at a colourful durbar to mark the 7th Annual Convention of the Council of Brong Ahafo Associations of North America (COBAANA) at Worcester, Massachusetts in the US.

She called parents and stakeholders in the education sector to ensure that their wards learn to read, count, and acquire the necessary life skills as Government is committed to improving education in the country.

Mrs. Mahama indicated that under education, which falls under “Putting people first is one of the four themes of the NDC manifesto, the President, among other things, has promised to establish colleges of education for the sole purpose of training teachers in early childhood care and development.

"The government is determined to eliminate all schools under trees by 2021 and to pilot the use of electronic textbooks at the JHS and secondary level. Students will receive tablets that have their core textbooks on it.  By bringing in this innovation, the government believes that education would become easier for our children" she assured the people.

This and other things show how committed government is in meeting the Sustainable Development Goal 4 which is to “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all” by 2030.

As Ghana prepares to go to the polls on December 7, the First Lady used the opportunity to urge the people of Tuobodom to live in harmony with each other and promote unity at all time. She reminded them of the need to preach the need to maintain the peace Ghana is enjoying wherever they find themselves.

With support from its sponsors and Medshare USA, the Lordina Foundation has supported health facilities with medical supplies and equipment in all ten regions of Ghana.