Educational opportunities are limited in the Central Gonja District. Besides the absence of any second cycle institution, the quality of basic education is undermined by inadequate and poor infrastructure, staffing and teaching and learning materials. The district has 18 Nurseries, 57 Primary Schools and 12 Junior Secondary Schools. 

The government’s capitation grant has swelled enrollment in the district. Total enrollment for all basic schools for the 2005/2006 academic year was 11 ,817 (6,316 boys and 5,502 girls) as against 10,926 (5,902 boys and 5,024 girls) in the previous year. Of the 256 teachers available, 90 (35%) of them are untrained. 

Regarding infrastructure and staff distribution, the urban areas have both numerical and quality advantage over the smaller and inaccessible communities. The pattern needs to be changed to ensure a better spread of the benefits of education across the district. 

Table 1: Trends in Enrollment in Basic Schools 

Though a new District, the Central Gonja District Assembly has made relentless efforts to re-organize the educational Sector. The following problems however, continue to hinder effective teaching and service.

• Inadequate teachers in most of the schools
• No accommodation for teachers.
• Poor school enrollment figures coupled with high school drop out rate especially among girls (2.5%).
• Generally, there is low-level of formal educational attainment. A few go beyond the JSS level especially the females.
• Inadequate textbooks
• No suitable classrooms for pupils

Most of the schools in the district do not have the full complement of classrooms.  They also lack basic facilities like toilets, urinals, water and playing grounds among others.

Intervention

• More teachers should be sponsored and posted back to the district
• Provide accommodation for teachers
• Give incentives to brilliant girls who attend school regularly.
• Motivate teachers to stay in the district

Sports Development

Sports have the potentials to enhance personal abilities, general health, and foster friendship and above all bring development and peace to communities. The Central Gonja District has not been left out in sporting activities and for that matter has to enjoy the above-mentioned benefits. As part of encouraging sporting activities in the district, support was given to the Ghana Education Service to acquire sporting items in the form of jerseys and other sporting equipment. Indeed all schools in the district engage their pupils/students in almost all sporting activities to promote general health and well being.

The Adults in the district are also not left out. They have town teams especially in Buipe and Yapei. There is fierce competition particularly in football, the passion of the nation. They however need more support to enable them take part in the Nation’s division one league.

Interventions

• Provide adequate and appropriate sports and recreational facilities in the district
• Secure support from benevolent citizens to acquire sporting equipment
• Encourage keep fit clubs in the district.
• Support the town teams to join the Division one league