Over 5000 pupils who were successful in the 2006/7 National Primary School Exams (NPSE) in the township of Port Loko have been presented with school and learning materials.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Allieu Sesay of the Islamic Development Bank project explained that the venture has resulted in a 300 percent increase in the number of girls accessing junior secondary schools in both the east and northern regions.
He told his audience that before the advent of the girl-child support programme only four girls out of every 10 complete their primary school education.
Dr Sesay informed his audience that the trend has improved to 7 out of every 10 school-going girls, and urged parents to continue to support their girls to buttress government efforts, while also denouncing early marriage practices.
He cautioned them against early pregnancy which he says will cause girls to drop out of school and encouraged them to learn methods of preventing HIV/AIDS, while disclosing that similar support would be given to those in the southern and western area on passing the NPSE as from September this year.
The ceremony held at the Maforki Chiefdom was chaired by the District Director of Education H.I.Kalokoh who observed that the essence of the symbolic ceremony is to sensitize both parents and female pupils on the value of education, noting that it is not only for the boy-child as often perceived especially in remote and distant villages.
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