Mr. Osman Macarious Halidu, Assistant Director of Basic Education in-charge of the Tamale Metropolis, has expressed worry that about 40 schools in the area were operating under tress because they lacked classrooms. He said 103 other schools held classes in pavilions and the situation was worst in the remote areas. Mr Halidu disclosed these at an early childhood development orientation for stakeholders in child development in Tamale on Tuesday. He said out of the 40 schools, nine were primary schools, two Junior High Schools (JHS) and 29 Kindergartens, and of the 103 schools operating in pavilions, 28 were kindergartens, 72 primary schools and three JHS. Mr Halidu said there were 1,286 untrained teachers in basic schools in the metropolis as against 2,926 trained teachers. He called on government to build more school buildings in the metropolis and said educational policies could not be successfully implemented if school children kept on attending classes under trees and in pavilions. Mr. Halidu observed that more girls started school than boys in the metropolis but the girls dropped out as they went through the academic system. The Regional Director for the Department of Children, Mr. Alhassan Abdul-Razak said early childhood care and development ensured the survival, protection, growth and development of the child. He said the Children's Act 1998, Act 560 enjoins District Assemblies and other decentralized departments to facilitate the establishment of day care centres and other facilities for children towards their development. Mr. Abdul-Razak called for effective implementation of childhood programmes to ensure holistic development of the child. Mr. Steven Sumani Nayina, Northern Regional Minister, in a speech read on his behalf, appealed to stakeholders in the education sector to collaborate to ensure the survival, growth and development of children in the country. Source: GNA