Education Plus will tackle barriers limiting girls’ education – Dr. Apaak

Deputy Education Minister, Dr. Clement Apaak, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advancing girls’ education through the Education Plus Initiative, a UN-backed programme aimed at improving the health of adolescent girls.

Addressing stakeholders on behalf of the Honorable Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, at the national consultation meeting on the Education Plus Initiative in Accra on Thursday, Dr. Apaak said the programme’s purpose aligns with Ghana’s broader vision of equality and social progress.

“This gathering reflects a shared understanding that the education of every girl is not only a question of fairness, but a cornerstone of Ghana’s progress,” he stated.

According to him, Ghana’s achievements over the past two decades demonstrate what deliberate policy and national commitment can accomplish.

“Through consistent investment, partnerships, and community mobilization, we have achieved gender parity at the basic level, ensuring that girls and boys attend and complete school in nearly equal measure,” he said.

He credited the Free Senior High School Policy for removing one of the major barriers to education, financial access.

“The Free SHS Policy has enabled thousands of young women to continue their studies, opening new pathways to self-reliance and leadership,” Mr. Iddrisu noted.

Despite these gains, the Minister acknowledged that disparities persist.

“Transition from basic to secondary and tertiary levels remains uneven, particularly for girls in rural and low-income households,” he said.

He also cited early marriage, teenage pregnancy, and gender-based violence as obstacles that continue to derail progress.

Dr. Apaak said the Education Plus Initiative offers an integrated framework to address these barriers by combining education, health, gender equality, and socio-economic empowerment.

“Keeping girls in school is not only about classrooms but about creating the social and health conditions that allow them to thrive,” he emphasized.

He urged stakeholders to engage constructively and develop practical, evidence-based approaches to sustain progress.

“Let us recognize the leadership of young women themselves, for they are not simply beneficiaries of policy, but active partners in shaping the future we envision,” he said.

Dr. Apaak insisted that the government will continue working with the Ghana AIDS Commission and UN partners to ensure “no child’s potential is lost to inequality or exclusion.”