Nsoatre (B/A), Jan. 6, GNA - Mrs Akua Akubour Debrah, Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of Education, has commended teachers in the region for their hard work and commitment to duty bringing about a remarkable improvement in education in the area.

She said this at an education forum at Nsoatre on Friday organized by the Brong-Ahafo Students Union (BASU) under the theme: "Standard of education in the Region, the challenges and the way forward". Mrs Debrah advised parents that education was the best legacy they could bequeath to their children and that they must not consider their investment in the education of their children as a waste. "A penny spent on a child's education will produce many pounds", she stressed.

She advised parents to pay lower funeral contributions and rather channel their resources into the education of their children. Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, Regional Minister, commended the Union for its support towards the improvement of education in the Region. He explained that the provision of quality education was a major priority of the government hence the introduction of the capitation grant and other laudable educational policies. Mr Baffour-Awuah advised parents to take advantage of the capitation grant and the school feeding programme and enroll their children of school going age in school.

Mr Kwasi Diawuo, a lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, who presided, noted that the standard of education could be improved if all stakeholders played their roles as expected.

He urged the Union to encourage and guide students in second cycle institutions to gain admission into tertiary institutions. Mr Anane Agyei, National President of BASU, said the prime objective of the Union was to promote and improve quality education in the Region.

He spoke against indiscipline and other social vices among the youth, saying the Union would not relent in efforts to help check untoward behaviours among students.

Mr Agyei appealed to the public to assist the Union to get office accommodation and urged the students not to dabble in chieftaincy issues but to concentrate on their education.

He commended African Network Travel and Tours in Tema for its support and assistance towards the programmes of the Union. Mr. Baffour-Awuah donated a laptop computer valued at 14 million cedis to the Union.