She said consequently, the management and staff of the centre had periodically visited some schools within the metropolis to identify and offer financial assistance to such children. Madam Fati, who was speaking at the school's graduation ceremony in Tamale, said the centre is committed to ensuring that children in the Northern part of the country, especially street children and the girl-child are enrolled in school to make them self-confident, trustworthy and responsible in future.

She also said: "The growing gap between the rich and the poor and the fact that the needs of people at the bottom of the economic pyramid have not been provided present an opportunity for us to work harder towards reducing poverty."

Mrs Alexandra Sopiimeh, the Metropolitan Director of Education, appealed to parents to complement government's effort at providing educational infrastructure and logistics, adding that a broad-based primary school programme is the foundation for a sound educational system for economic growth and poverty reduction.

Mr Mohammed Baba, Tamale Metropolitan Coordinating Director, appealed to parents to assist their children to acquire knowledge and skills to enable them to contribute effectively to national development.

He also urged parents to visit schools regularly so that they could monitor the behaviour of their children and to collaborate with educational authorities to initiate effective disciplinary measures to facilitate teaching and learning.

Mr Baba called for the establishment of an endowment fund to feed children in day care centres to motivate parents to send their children to these facilities, which are significant for their early development.