The lack of public school and the relatively high school fees in private schools at Korleman near Manchie in the Ga West Municipality of the Greater Accra Region, is forcing children out of school.
With a population of about 1000, the only school in the village which is a private one is up to only primary three and charges termly school fees of GHC50.
Parents say the fees is too high to pay for their children to have basic education, hence their wards have been staying at home.
For the children whose parents are able to pay the termly fees of GHC50, they graduate at primary three as the Korleman Methodist School does not have an upper primary.
According to the headmistress of the Methodist school, Mary-Margaret Barnes, some children are dropouts due to the payment of GHC50 as school fees.
Last Wednesday morning when TV3 news team arrived at Korleman , most children of schoolgoing age were seen in their homes and around loitering.
It also emerged that most teenage girls in the village who drop out of school were pregnant
A 7-year old Jennifer Tomeh and her brother Benard Tomeh had to drop-out of school due to their father’s inability to pay their school fees.
Their uncle, Philip Dzakpasu, blamed the children’s lack of education to their father’s irresponsibleness.
He told TV3 his brother has been spending his money on dresses, saying “he dress nicely and walk around but will refuse to cater for his children”.
Another seven-year-old Maria Anyaba also dropped out of school because of the GHC50 fees.
Ms. Barnes told TV3 most children come to school on empty stomach, noting their feeding therefore become her responsibility.
Meanwhile, Odel Foundation, a group that seeks to promote education and empower the youth, has donated some items including exercise books, paints, biscuits and some drinks to the school.
Founder of the Foundation, Odilia Agyeman Prempeh, entreated the pupils to be serious with their academics. Ms. Barnes who expressed appreciation for the gesture, said it would help the school and also encourage the pupils to stay in school.
Assemblyman of the Samsam Electoral Area, Richard Akoto, said the residents are predominantly farmers. He said their road network was in deplorable state which he said affects their farming.
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