UNICEF advocates for 800,000 children left to be enrolled in school

About 800,000 children of primary school age are not enrolled into schools despite the massive progress in increase access to education in recent years, UNICEF reported on Wednesday in Accra. EMIS data for 2006/2007 indicated that the current net enrollment ratio in primary school was 78.6 per cent, a substantial improvement on the 52 per cent in 1990, 60 per cent in 2000 and 68 per cent in 2005/2006. Briefing the media on UNICEF and CAF campaign on quality education for all children in Africa, Dr Yasmin Ali Haque, UNICEF Country Representative said though much had been achieved, there was still more to be done to ensure that every child of school going age was enrolled. She said kindergarten enrollment had increased to 83 per cent from 2002 to 2006 commended government for the bold decision in abolishing all school fees and levies in basic education combined with the capitation grants particularly in the most deprived areas. Dr Haque recommended that kindergarten education be part of basic education to improve child readiness for learning at primary level and beyond to enhance their retention and learning achievements. Mr Osei Bonsu Amoah a deputy Minister of Education, Science and Sports said sports had been identified as an avenue for promoting health, education, development and peace for achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. He noted that 26th MTN Cup Nations to he held in Ghana would be used as platform to talk about universal primary education, which he said would give the opportunity to some children to follow the fortunes of their heroes. Mr Amoah urged the media to exploit the huge platform offered during the tournament to offer their contribution in achieving the development goal of universal primary education. UNICEF, Confederation of African Football (CAF) in collaboration with the Local Organizing Committee are partnering to harness the power of football during the 26th MTN Cup Nations to be played in Ghana from January 20 to February 10 to promote quality education for all children in Africa. The campaign would focus on the challenges facing quality education in the areas of lack of trained teachers, text books and safe/secure learning environment. The fund raising component would provide a platform for people to support the provision of infrastructure needed to improve education through an SMS MTN short code 1388.