ActionAid Ghana’s work in education is to enlighten parents, school authorities and children in schools to see the need to respect the rights of children. Parents are now realising that it is bad and illegal to deny children their right to education and that the law could deal ruthlessly with anyone who is found culpable.

 

Between the period June and August this year (2009), the Upper East Regional Development (UERDP) of ActionAid Ghana have sensitized five communities on the rights of the child both at home and in school and this resulted in the formation of five child rights clubs in those community schools. Membership of the clubs is open to all children at the  Junior Secondary School level.

 

The objective of the clubs is to further raise awareness on child rights and also build a strong voice for the inclusion of children in the decision making process of the schools.

 

Narrating his experience Nasiru Akolgo, a 14 year old Junior High School pupil from Kopeliga, had this to say: “I am happy to be part of this programme which is educating children to know our rights both in school and at home. Through the lectures ActionAid organizes for us, I am now aware that it is my right as a child to be in school. This means that all other children who are not in school are having their right violated by their parents which is not good. Parents who refuse to send their children to school should be punished by the law. I also know that as pupils our teachers have a responsibility to respect our rights and should include us in the decision making process of the school. However in teaching us our rights we are also made aware of our responsibilities to our school, family, community and the nation as a whole. I will ensure that I remain a good citizen by carrying out my responsibilities in order for me to qualify for my rights. I thank ActionAid for this knowledge.”