Tema, Oct 12, GNA - An educationist has called on the state, religious organisations, schools and the public to collectively create an enabling environment for the fashioning out of a holistic education towards national development.

Professor Kofi Sraku-Lartey, Principal of the Presbyterian University College, who made the call, explained that a holistic education "is concerned with the growth of every person's intellectual, emotional, social, physical, artistic, creative and spiritual potentials". He was speaking at the 27th Speech and Prize-Giving Day of Chemu Senior High School in Tema on Saturday, organised on the theme: "Empowerment Through Holistic Education - The Role Of Stakeholders". Prof Sraku-Lartey said a comprehensive education would actively engage students in teaching and learning and encourage personal and collective responsibility.

He said this would also enable learners to critically approach cultural, moral and political issues and also make them to become hard working, humble, honest and disciplined. Prof Sraku-Lartey said that the provision of a holistic education for the creation of opportunities for the attainment of self-actualisation would depend on the joint efforts of individuals, parents, teachers and the community.

He said the church generally "sees what is wrong with society and seeks to correct such wrongs to bring about development." Prof Sraku-Lartey said the church would continue to contribute to the development of education and provide leadership to help shape the lives of the people. He noted that the universal approach to issues by government sometimes resulted in the erosion of societal values, and appealed to the authorities to involve other stakeholders in charting a healthy path for the education of the youth. Prof Sraku-Lartey said the main objective of education was to empower people, especially the youth to contribute meaningfully to national development.

He, however, said "If all stakeholders do what is expected of them but the student fails to appreciate this, the student will not become successful". Prof Sraku-Lartey advised the youth to channel their energies into productive ventures, listen to the advice of their parents and teachers and avoid evil. Mr Robert Kempes Papa Nii Ofosuware, Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, chaired the function, while Nii Adjei Kraku II, Tema Mantse, was special guest of honour.