EDUCATION, YOUTH AND SPORTS DEPARTMENT 3. (1) The education, youth and Sports Department of the Assembly is responsible for pre-school, special school, basic education, youth and sports, development or organization and library services at the district level.
(2) The department harmonizes the activities and functions of the following agencies operating at the district level, (a) The Ghana Education Service (b) The Youth Council; (c) The Sports Council; and (d) The Library Board.
(3) The functions of the Department are to: (a) assist in the formulation and implementation of policies on Education in the District within the framework of National Policies and guidelines; (b) encourage, report on implementation of policies and matters relating to basic education in accordance with reporting format provided by the Minister; (c) advise the District Assembly on matters relating to preschool, primary, junior high schools in the district and other matters that may be referred to it by the District Assembly; (d) facilitate the appointment, disciplining, posting and transfer of teachers in pre-schools, basic schools and special schools in the district; (e) assist in keeping records of teachers; (f) advise on discipline of teachers in accordance with their conditions of service; (g) assist in the appointment of school welfare officers; (h) facilitate the granting of study leave to teachers who gain admission to higher level educational institutions in accordance with the condition of service of teachers; (i) advise on the appointment of Head teachers;
(j) facilitate the supervision of pre-school, primary and junior high schools in the district (k) advise on the formation of school Management Committees; (I) facilitate collection of statistical data and other relevant information; (m) liaise with the appropriate authorities for in-service training of pupil teachers; (n) advise on the approval of the opening of private pre-schools, primary and junior high schools; (0) assist in indenting for the supply of textbooks from national level institutions and the distribution of textbooks to schools in the district (p) assist to regulate, supervise and control teaching and learning in preschools, primary schools, junior high schools and special schools in the district; (q) advise on the construction, maintenance and management of public schools and libraries in the district; (r) advise on the granting and maintenance of scholarships or bursaries to suitably qualified pupils or persons to attend any school or other educational institution in Ghana or elsewhere; (s) facilitate the establishment and maintenance of facilities or centers of excellence for the arts and crafts for recreation; (t) advise on the provision and management of public libraries and library services in the district in consultation with the Ghana Library Board; (u) assist the Assembly to formulate and implement policies on youth within the framework of the National policies and guidelines; (v) advise the Assembly on matters relating to the youth in the district; (w) advise the Assembly on the appointment, posting, discipline, transfer of officers and welfare of the youth in the district; (x) advise on the establishment of District Youth Council Committees and appointment of staff; (y) facilitate supervision, regulation and general administration of youth organizations and their activities in the district; (z) assist in the collection of statistical data and other information on youth matters in the district; (aa) assist to build, equip, operate and maintain Youth Recreational and Resource Centers where young people can meet and interact in a healthy atmosphere; (bb) promote the formation and development of youth organizations to coordinate, develop direct and channel the talents and energies of the youth into productive activities; (ee) assist to liaise with public and private sector agencies to promote youth work and seek resources for youth development; (dd) submit reports on matters relating to youth development to the District Assembly; (ee) co-ordinate the organization and supervision of training programmes for youth in the district to develop leadership qualities, personal initiatives, patriotism and community spirit; (ff) encourage investments in youth programmes and projects; (gg) assist in organizing voluntary school work camps for school and out of school to enable the youth interact and take part in Community Development; (hh) facilitate the organization of District Youth Festivals annually; (ii) organize District Youth Environmental awareness week yearly for the Youth to focus and address problems pertaining to the environment; (jj) encourage the provision of youth counseling services on career counseling paths, drugs and employment; (kk) assist the youth to engage themselves profitably in small scale enterprises; (ll) assist in formulation and implementation of sports policies, programmes and activities of the District Assembly; (mm) coordinate the preparation of annual youth budget of the District Assembly; (nn) advise on the (i) appointment of a District sports organizer; (ii) appointment, discipline, posting and transfer of personnel for public, sports organizations and institution in the district; (iii) promotion of efficient management and administration of private sector sports clubs and associations in the district, and (iv) collection and dissemination of sports statistical data and other information in the districts; (00) advise the Assembly on all matters relating to sports development in the District; (pp) facilitate construction, equipping, operating and maintenance of sports stadia and other sporting facilities in the districts; (qq) assist in organizing sports activities in the district to participate in mass sports, sports for excellence and sports for the disabled in the district; (rr) assist to organize a District Sports festival at least once a year; (ss) coordinate the selection and preparation of district sportsmen and women for inter district sports festival and tournaments; (tt) assist to establish amateur and professional sports associations in the district; (uu) encourage the establishment of Keep-Fit Clubs in the district; (vv) facilitate training of community sports leaders and coaches for the Keep-Fit Clubs and sports teams in the district; (ww) participate in research into matters relating to sports in the district; (xx) facilitate private sector participation in the provision and management of sports infrastructure in the district; (yy) assist in the provision of sports equipments to public sports organizations and activities in the districts; and (zz) facilitate preparation of reports on the implementation of sports policies and matters relating to sports to the District Chief Executive in accordance with a reporting format provided by the Assembly.
The University for Development Studies Tamale Campus which located in Gupanarigu Area Council was established in 1992 by the government of Ghana with a view to accelerating the development of the then 3 Northern Regions of Ghana (the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions). The late President Jerry John Rawlings played a crucial role in its founding as he used his prized money from World Food Prize of $50,000 as seed money for its establishment. It was set up as a multi-campus institution. It is the fifth public university to be established in Ghana. . This deviates from the usual practice of having universities with central campuses and administrations. It was created with the three northern regions of North Ghana in mind. These are the Northern Region, Upper East Region and the Upper West Region. It has four campuses in all, eight Faculties, a Business School, one Medical School, one Graduate School, one Institute and three centres.
This is a huge potential for Kumbungu district because since its creation in 1992, the school has seen a lot of infrastructural development and also turns out so many thousands of graduates for the job market within and outside Ghana.
The District is looking for other universities in Ghana and outside to collaborate in so many areas to bring about the full desired potentials of the district in terms of education.