The Reverend Professor Emmanuel Addow-Obeng, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), has underscored the need for schools to combine academic excellence with good character training.

The Rev. Prof Addow-Obeng, who was speaking at the 70th anniversary celebration of the Bantama Presbyterian Basic School in Kumasi, said that was the only way to make their products more useful to the society.

“Discipline-the hallmark of educational success” was the theme.

The former Vice Chancellor said high academic performance that was not matched by discipline and morality would be counter-productive to the nation’s progress.

The practice of preparing students just for examinations must therefore end, he said.

He lauded the mission schools for their immense contribution to the human resource development of the country.

Through their comprehensive educational and time-tested programmes, they had helped to churn out talents, professionals and leaders, who were spearheading Ghana’s development agenda in various capacities.

The Rev. Prof Addow-Obeng urged the school’s management and Board of Directors to work tirelessly to maintain the image and high standards it had set for itself.

He said they should use the anniversary to take stock of how they had performed and to make amends where necessary to sustain its growth.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, in a message delivered on his behalf, encouraged the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) to continue complementing government’s efforts at promoting quality education by mobilizing resources to support the expansion of schools’ infrastructure.

He said this was necessary to create more space for increased students’ admission.

The Very Rev. Dr. Sam Prempeh, former Moderator of the PCG, pledged the determination of the leadership of the church to engender the “Presbyterian Discipline” in all its educational institutions to help produce God-fearing leaders for the nation.