Apam (Central Region), 28 Jan. '99 -

A member of the Apam Catholic School Parent-Teacher Association has appealed to the Ghana Education Service (GES) to ban the selling of ice creams and toffees in day nurseries and primary schools. Miss Regina Quainoo said because of the ice creams and the toffees, many children prefer collecting money to eating at home before going to school. She made the appeal at a School Performance Appraisal Meeting (SPAM) at Apam yesterday. Miss Quainoo alleged that the worst offenders in the ice cream business are female teachers some of whom she alleged give out the ice creams on credit to the children. "How can the child get the peace of mind to learn when he or she is hungry because his or her money meant for food has been collected by the teacher to pay for ice cream credited?" she asked. Mrs Agnes Ampomah, matron of Apam Catholic Mission Hospital advised parents to insist that their children eat at home before going to school and expressed concern about the practice where working mothers leave their children in the care of aged their grand-mothers instead of taking personal care of them. Mr John E.S. Baffoe, Apam Circuit Supervisor of education reminded parents and teachers of their role in ensuring the success of the new educational programme. Mr Anthony Woode, Headmaster of Dawurampong Catholic Junior secondary school urged parents to provide the basic needs of their children promptly because any delay in getting their needs frustrates the children and retard progress of their work.