Mr Anthony Maxwell Amoako, the new District Director of Education for Amansie West, has warned that he would sanction basic school heads who condoned lateness and absenteeism by their staff.

The move would help bring sanity into education in the District, which he said was seeing a decline, because of illegal mining activities (galamsey), which was a major cause of truancy and increase in school drop-outs.

Mr Amoako was outlining his vision to basic heads, teaching /non-teaching staff and education stakeholders at a maiden meeting after he took over from Mr. Samuel Kena, who retired last month

The new director was the former senior housemaster for Konongo-Odumase Senior High School in the Asante-Akim Central Municipality.

He said teachers would be able to whip up the dwindling interest of children in education and attract them to school if they (teachers) showed seriousness in their work by being punctual and regular at school.

“You as teachers should be examples and role models in the communities in all spheres of life to earn the respect you deserve,” he added

Mr Amoako said his administration would not countenance indiscipline, absenteeism and other negative acts that could adversely affect teaching and learning in the district, and asked those who had the habit to change for the better.

He promised to liaise with the District Assembly to provide furniture and other logistics to aid them in their work.