A concerning trend is emerging in Northern Ghana, with more boys dropping out of school than girls, Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch) has revealed.

The findings, stemming from a recent census across 20 districts, indicate a reversal of the national norm where girls are typically more likely to be out of school. Eduwatch Executive Director, Kofi Asare, explained the study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of educational interventions since the 2021 Population and Housing Census.

“It was important for us to assess whether the policies and programmes introduced since 2021 are yielding results and to understand the changing patterns of school exclusion,” Mr. Asare stated during an interview with Channel One TV.

According to Eduwatch, economic pressures are largely to blame for the increasing number of boys abandoning their education to engage in income-generating activities, including betting and illegal mining, commonly known as ‘galamsey’.

Nearly 70 per cent of out-of-school children are between the ages of 12 and 17, a demographic particularly susceptible to the lure of quick earnings. This highlights the urgent need for targeted programmes to keep adolescent boys in the classroom, the organisation says.

Mr. Asare also reiterated calls for the prompt recruitment of teachers, emphasizing the critical need for fully staffed schools. He warned that the current teacher shortage, persisting well into 2026, significantly hinders effective supervision and learning outcomes.

“Chronic understaffing continues to undermine supervision and learning outcomes,” he added. He urged policymakers and education stakeholders to prioritize strategies that guarantee equitable and sustained access to education for all children, irrespective of gender.

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