“After secondary school, there are many girls who are unable to pursue higher education simply because their parents cannot afford the cost of higher education,” she stressed.

She said one way that had proven to be sustainable and effective in helping people to realise their potential or pursue their dreams was through the provision of scholarship to people who had the potential but not the finances to realise their dreams.

Golden jubilee

Mrs Kasser-Tee, also an old student, was speaking as the guest speaker during the golden jubilee anniversary celebration of the Bolgatanga Girls’ Senior High School (BOGISS).

It was on the theme: “Girl-child education, a critical tool for national development.”

As part of the event, the old students handed over a mechanised borehole to improve access to water in the school.

Additionally, the parents association (PA) also handed over the renovated Home Economics block at a cost of GH¢601,592.60, which was destroyed by a rainstorm last year and some metal tables and chairs at a cost of GH¢80,000 among others.

She said, “while we continue to make the call for the education of the girl-child, we must begin to consider avenues that help the girl-child to come out of her shell to achieve her aspirations in life”.

Theme

Touching on the theme, she stated that education provided the nation with tremendous human resources in so many ways, be it in the arts, sciences, vocational skills or any other human endeavour.

The students

“Without a trained and educated mind, we will have physical structures but not live lives that are easier, happy and dignifying” she noted, adding “education in all of its different forms is therefore a must for all”.

She added that no parent had an excuse not to educate their child any longer, be it a girl or boy and that stakeholders must enforce the obligation on parents to educate their children towards societal development.

She said undoubtedly, women formed half of the society and therefore the nation could not develop at a reasonable pace and achieve the desired progress without the benefit of the talents and potential of half of its population.

She lauded the management of BOGISS for their efforts over the years as the school had provided access to education to many girls who were currently contributing to the growth of many sectors of the economy.

In a speech read on his behalf, the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Dr Eric Nkansah, said the government through the GES was implementing a number of reforms to improve education outcomes under the education strategic plan spanning 2018-2030.

He entreated the students to be studious and committed to excellence in their studies as it was the surest way to achieve their academic aspirations and further urged all stakeholders to come together to champion the cause of girls’ education in the country.

The headmistress of BOGISS, Patience Agoteba Anaba, in an address, expressed gratitude to the government and the alumni for their unrelenting support to the growth and development of the school since its establishment.

That notwithstanding, she appealed for more infrastructural projects to meet the growing student population to enable the institution to return to a single-track system to enhance teaching and learning.

She equally paid glowing tribute to her predecessors, both teaching and non-teaching staff for their efforts over the years to sustain the enviable reputation of the school as the pioneer girls’ SHS in the region.

Challenges

The Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu, said in a country where females constituted the greater segment of the population, it was only fair to give them their rightful place in the scheme of things.

He noted that government was not oblivious of the several challenges confronting the educational sector and added that, “government is working assiduously with partners to address some of the challenges”.