Jacobu (Ash), Dec 19, GNA 96 The Amansie Central District Assembly in the Ashanti Region has enacted byelaws to restrict the movement of school children during the night.

Mr Kwame Asamoah-Boateng, the District Chief Executive, who announced this at Jacobu, stressed, 93Henceforth, children below 18 years are prohibited to attend video shows, funeral wakes and other social activities during the night=94.

In addition, the assembly had said the use of children as driver's mate, helping hands at mining sites and other jobs that prevented the children from attending school are also prohibited. Mr Asamoah-Boateng was speaking at a special awards day organised by the Amansie Central District Directorate of Education. In all, three pupils and students and three schools were honoured as part of efforts to encourage excellent school activities in the district. The DCE said the aim of the byelaws was to help the children to stay indoors and study their books to improve academic excellence and also bring out disciplined children.

He pointed out that most children could not read and express themselves in the English language, contributing greatly to their poor performance in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). Mr Asamoah-Boateng therefore called for involvement of all in the enforcement of the byelaws so that it could help improve the situation. =93The enforcement of these byelaws is the responsibility of all assembly and unit committee members, chiefs and parents. We want all stakeholders to be concerned and involved in the development and upbringing of our children so that in the end we produce useful and productive citizens=94.

Mrs Janet Appiah-Nkansah, the District Director of Education, said there was the need for a district library to be built to enable school children to have access to more story books to read. She emphasised that it was the responsibility of all, especially parents and teachers to inculcate reading habits in children so that they would be able to use their leisure time more profitably. Tweapease Junior Secondary School was honoured with books and a wall clock for being the school with the best BECE results for this year whilst Akrofrom JSS was adjudged the best school with a well kept compound. Jacobu SDA kindergarten was mentioned as the best organised KG school in the district.

Master Seth Appiah of SDA JSS was rated the best students in the BECE for scoring seven ones, whilst Master Richmond Boakye of Jacobu Methodist primary and Miss Priscilla Achiaa of Numereso JSS was honoured for being the best in reading and writing in the primary and JSS categories respectively.