The Ledzokuku Municipal Director of Education, Mrs Theresa Tetteh, has called on stakeholders in the education sector to ensure that attention is not placed solely on the development of the girl child at the expense of boys.
She urged parents, non-governmental organisations, international bodies, and other stakeholders to allocate resources towards addressing challenges affecting boys, including anxiety, mental health concerns, and adolescent reproductive health issues, among others.
Mrs Tetteh explained that when boys receive adequate mentoring, guidance, and care, they are less likely to engage in social vices that could create difficulties for themselves, their families, society, and the nation as a whole.
Mrs. Tetteh made the remarks last Thursday at an event held in the Ledzokuku Municipality of the Greater Accra Region to mark this year’s International Day for the Boy Child.
The event, held under the theme “Flourish and Thrive: Investing in the boy for stronger families and communities,” brought together educators, political leaders, religious leaders, students, and representatives of faith-based organisations, among others.
May 16 is observed globally as the International Day of the Boy Child, a day set aside to highlight issues affecting the well-being and development of boys.
In line with this observance, the Ledzokuku Municipal Education Directorate, in collaboration with Uttermost Campus, brought together boys from both first- and second-cycle institutions across the municipality to mark the occasion.
Uttermost Campus is the campus ministry arm of the Uttermost Church, an evangelical movement focused on nurturing students who are spiritually grounded, intellectually developed, and guided by strong values across educational institutions.
Need for stronger support systems
The Municipal Director noted that the lack of proper support, guidance, and mentorship for boys at an early age often pushes them to rely on peers, social media, and other informal sources for information. She warned that this can sometimes lead them into harmful situations.
She added that shaping the future aspirations of the boy child is a shared responsibility that goes beyond teachers and parents, calling on all stakeholders to play their part.
The Ledzokuku Municipal Education Welfare Officer and Second Cycle Coordinator, Madam Eunice Korantemaa Nsowah, noted that beyond providing quality education, equal attention must be given to the mental health and other needs of boys to ensure their healthy growth and development are not disrupted.
Intensified counselling
She called on school counsellors to step up regular engagement with students and provide consistent support to help them address challenges affecting their growth and overall development.
Pastor Solomon Addo, Founder and Leader of Uttermost Campus, has urged parents to look beyond the academic development of the boy child and pay equal attention to their social and spiritual growth.
He stressed that raising responsible boys into adulthood is crucial for national development, calling on families and educators to reassess how boys are nurtured both at home and in schools.
Pastor Addo said the rapidly changing world makes it essential for children to be equipped with strong values and intellectual skills, enabling them to grow into responsible global citizens rather than individuals driven solely by wealth and material gain.