Since the introduction of the school placement selection system, parents and guardians have thronged the various solution centres to resolve the challenges with their wards’ placement.
Women have been at the forefront of securing schools for their wards, including 53-year-old visually impaired auntie Millicent, who will not relent until her child is rightly placed.
At the school placement center, at the GNAT hall in Accra mothers, aunties, sisters and even grandparents lead the quest to resolve an issue or another.
One of such is auntie Millicent. The 53-year-old visually impaired, walks, in with the help of her daughter, who wants to change her school placement.
“My daughter was placed at Afadjato SHS, and because of my eye problem, I need her around, so we came to change it,” she said.
Asked why she had to represent the family despite her challenge, she explained that, “I have lost my husband, and since then, it’s been just us. No help comes from anywhere.”
She and her daughter were not successful and have been asked to return later.
The women outnumber the men, the question is where are the fathers?
“Our husbands are available, they could not come with us because they need to go find money to support the family, answered 55-year-old deaconess comfort Asiedu, who was also there to resolve a placement issue.
For 64-year-old father, Baba, her wife is the breadwinner of the family, hence while she is away at the market, he has to deal with these issues.
“I have always been the one to do this for my family. My wife rather goes to the market, to support the family,” he said.
For Reverend Amoah, also a father, taking up a role in their child’s life should be the priority of every parent.
According to sociologist, Dr. Kodzovi Akpabli -Honu, there is a new trend of mothers now becoming the breadwinners.
“There’s a new crop of families called matrifocal families where the mothers are now the breadwinners. This is the new reality that society has to deal with and it shows everywhere”.
He added that in the journey of a child’s education, the support and encouragement of parents play a vital role.
For auntie Millicent and the many mothers who besiege these solution centres, they will not relent until their children are satisfied.
With support from Fredrick Kunzote-Ani