Talensi schoolgirls abandon classrooms for 'wife duties' at illegal mining sites

A growing number of girls aged 13 to 16 in the Talensi District are leaving school. They are living with illegal miners and taking on domestic roles. This situation resembles traditional marriage duties.

Local education authorities are concerned. School enrollment and attendance are dropping in areas affected by illegal mining, known as galamsey.

Christiana Azure Ayinzoya, the Talensi District Director of Education, says the issue is serious. It particularly affects Junior High School students.

“These girls cohabit with young boys and older miners,” Ayinzoya told Asaase News. “They cook, clean, and often become pregnant.” She added that many girls drop out completely before they can be traced.

Boys are also affected by this trend. Many young boys quit school for quick cash from illegal mining.

Education officers report that some pupils stop attending classes after registering for exams. These absences lead to them being barred from taking the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

In 2023, seven pregnant girls took the BECE, showing how severe this crisis is. Ghana’s re-entry policy allows pregnant girls to return to school, but dropout rates remain high due to poor attendance and academic disengagement.

Ayinzoya explains that district officials are trying to help these girls. They work with social welfare officers and a girls’ education team to find them at mining sites.

However, progress is slow and complicated. “We sometimes negotiate with the boys or men they’re staying with,” she said. “We tell them we want her to complete her education.”

While some girls return to school, many struggle to catch up after long absences. Their academic performance declines as a result.

“We registered them, but many aren’t prepared for exams,” Ayinzoya noted. The district's overall academic performance remains poor.

“When I took over, our BECE pass rate was 26 percent,” she said. “Now it’s 46 percent, but I’ve never crossed 50 percent.”

Family dynamics are also changing due to this situation. Parents feel powerless when their children bring home food and money from mining sites.

“They bring home noodles and cash that parents can’t compete with,” Ayinzoya stated. Some parents don’t even know where their children sleep anymore.

Economic hardship has led many parents to give up on discipline at home. “It’s not just in Talensi; it’s happening across the country,” she added.

The immediate benefits of mining may seem appealing, but there are long-term consequences of leaving school.

“You have energy now for digging gold,” she warned, “but once it’s gone, it’s gone.” Education is an investment that lasts forever.

Ayinzoya calls for urgent action against illegal mining and increased parental engagement. She aims to prevent a lost generation in Talensi through coordinated efforts.