Literacy and Education

Literacy

Table 3.9 shows information about persons 11 years and older by their sex, age and literacy status. Out of a total number of 32,660 of the population 11 years and older in all the different age groups 22,432 (68.7%) are literate while 10,228 (31.3%) are not literate. In general, older people have lower literacy rates compared with the younger folks. Generally, the rate of literacy decreases with increasing age. From age group 20-24 there is a steady decline of the literate population up to age group 65+.

The population who can read and write English and Ghanaian language constitute the highest proportion (69.7%) of the total literate population. Literacy in English and Ghanaian Language is high across all age groups ranging from 61.2 percent in the age group 35-39 to a high of 75.6 percent in the age group 50-59 years. However, literacy in English and French, or English, French and Ghanaian Language however, is very low with less than two percent in any age group literate in these languages.

In terms of sex variations not much difference is observed as both sexes follow a pattern similar to the District pattern. Literacy in English only ranges from a low of four percent to a high of about 19 percent in the various age groups for both males and females. Although the proportions fluctuate, it is highest for the age group 11-14 years (19.0%) for both males and females and lowest for the age groups 65 years and over for females (4.1%) and 60-64 years for males (2.9%).

Population 3 years and older by level of education, school attendance and sex

Table 3.10 provides information on the population 3 years and older by sex who are currently attending school or attended school in the past. Out of the 29,506 who have ever attended school, 19,950 (67.6%) are currently attending school and 9,556 (32.4%) attended school in the past.

For those currently attending school, those at the Pre-school level of education (Nursery and Kindergarten) constitute 24.4 percent. About two-thirds (66.9%) of those currently in school are in basic schools (Primary, Middle and J.S.S/J.H.S). Less than ten percent (8.0%) are in secondary schools (S.S.S/S.H.S, Secondary) and even smaller proportion (0.8%) are in schools beyond the secondary school level.

The situation in relation to past school attendance is not good. There is no past attendance at the pre-school level due to non-availability of the pre-school system in the District. About three in four (77.0%) of past school attendants were in basic school. Less than three percent (2.8%) attended secondary schools. However, a higher proportion of the population (5.5%) attended schools beyond the secondary school level in the past.

The table also shows male/female differences in current and past educational levels. Among those currently attending school, 54.1 percent are males while 45.9 percent are females. However the proportion of females who are currently attending school and are in primary schools (52.1%) is higher than the corresponding male proportion of 49.3 percent. The situation is reversed when one considers junior high school/junior secondary school where the proportion of males currently attending schools who are in junior high school/secondaryIn terms of sex variations not much difference is observed as both sexes follow a pattern similar to the District pattern. Literacy in English only ranges from a low of four percent to a high of about 19 percent in the various age groups for both males and females. Although the proportions fluctuate, it is highest for the age group 11-14 years (19.0%) for both males and females and

Population 3 years and older by level of education, school attendance and sex

Table 3.10 provides information on the population 3 years and older by sex who are currently attending school or attended school in the past. Out of the 29,506 who have ever attended school, 19,950 (67.6%) are currently attending school and 9,556 (32.4%) attended school in the past.

For those currently attending school, those at the Pre-school level of education (Nursery and Kindergarten) constitute 24.4 percent. About two-thirds (66.9%) of those currently in school are in basic schools (Primary, Middle and J.S.S/J.H.S). Less than ten percent (8.0%) are in secondary schools (S.S.S/S.H.S, Secondary) and even smaller proportion (0.8%) are in schools beyond the secondary school level.

The situation in relation to past school attendance is not good. There is no past attendance at the pre-school level due to non-availability of the pre-school system in the District. About three in four (77.0%) of past school attendants were in basic school. Less than three percent (2.8%) attended secondary schools. However, a higher proportion of the population (5.5%) attended schools beyond the secondary school level in the past.

The table also shows male/female differences in current and past educational levels. Among those currently attending school, 54.1 percent are males while 45.9 percent are females. However the proportion of females who are currently attending school and are in primary schools (52.1%) is higher than the corresponding male proportion of 49.3 percent. The situation is reversed when one considers junior high school/junior secondary school where the proportion of males currently attending schools who are in junior high school/secondary school is 18.1 percent compared to 16.8 percent for females. This reverse change in proportion continues into secondary schools where 6.9 percent of males who are currently attending school are in secondary schools compared to 5.9 percent for the proportion of females in secondary schools.

The number of females who attended school in the past is 44.5 percent of the population of those who attended school in the past. This proportion is lower when compared to the corresponding male proportion of 55.5 percent. However, at the basic school level, the proportion who attended school in the past is lower for males (79.9%) than for females (89.7%). Yet more males (13.1%) than females (7.7%) attended secondary school. Also more than twice as many males (6.9%) compared to females (2.7%) attended schools beyond the level of secondary school in the past.

In summary, the District data reveal that at the lower levels of education from pre-school to primary school, the proportion of females currently attending school or attended school in the past is higher for females. However, this trend is reversed from junior secondary level upwards where the proportion of males is higher than that for females. This is indicative that more females than males drop out of school as they climb higher the educational ladder.