School heads call for national girls' policy

Kumasi, Aug. 14, GNA - The Forum of Heads of Girls Senior High Schools has called for the formulation of a national policy for girls. This, it said, was necessary to empower the girls to contribute more meaningfully towards national development. Mrs Silvia Asempa, the Headmistress of Aburi Girls Senior High School and National President of the Forum, was addressing the opening of a five-day summer camp for more than 300 girls selected from second cycle girls' institutions across the country. The camp, being held under the theme "Empowering Girls through Healthy Relationships," is the second to be organized by the Forum since its formation in 2007.

It is designed to provide the platform for educating the adolescent girls on fundamental issues that would positively impact on their future lives. Activities lined up include specially tailored personality identification sessions and counselling with a view to helping them to unearth their potentials for future career development. Mrs Anima Wilson, Deputy Ashanti regional Minister, said adolescent girls were not adequately empowered and as a result a good number of them had lost focus.

She appealed to the Forum to provide the right leadership to guide and help to mould their characters. Mr Joseph Kwabena Onyina, Ashanti Regional Director of Education, lauded the Forum for its efforts at helping to give direction to the adolescent girls. He urged the Heads to act firmly to instil discipline in the students.