Agona Nkwanta (W/R), March 15, GNA - Madam Rose Blay, Ahanta West District Director of Education, has said that the celebration of the Commonwealth Day should serve as a reminder of the freedom granted to former colonies to pass their own laws.

She said the day brings closer independent states that have a common heritage and should create an avenue for cooperation, education, culture, health science and technology.

Madam Blay was addressing a mock parliamentary sitting organised by the regional directorate of education in collaboration with the Ahanta West District Assembly at Agona Nkwanta on Monday. She said the mock parliament session was meant to assist pupils from the 53 selected schools in the district to know how the legislature works.

Madam Blay said the Commonwealth grouping was aimed at supporting democracy, ensuring peace, enhance human rights, fight crime and eliminate poverty among member countries.

Mr. Peter Amenu-Kpornyo, Ahanta West District Coordinating Director, said school children should be assisted in their formative years to develop their oral and public speaking skills. This would make them eloquent and put them abreast with modern trends so they could defend and analyse issues without necessarily referring to written documents or speeches.

Mr. Amenu-Kpornyo appealed to teachers and parents to assist school children to remain in school and stay away from the market centres. He said the district would not make any meaningful headway if its pupils become truants and engage in negative acts.

The Arthur Fischer Catholic Primary and JSS emerged the best in the mock parliament with 73 points. Miss Ishlar Vandyke represented the school.

Kwamekrom D/C School, represented by Alhasan Baidoo, won the second position with 70 points.

The third position went to Aboadzi JSS with 66.25 points and represented by Steven Kwofie. The schools were presented with books and copies of the Constitution.