The Asante-Akim South District Education Director, Mr. Ignatius Mwinbe Ere-Der has warned against teacher absenteeism and says that would not be tolerated.

He therefore asked those guilty of the practice to reform in their own interest.

He said they were determined to go every length to ensure that there was optimal use of the contact hours to raise academic performance.

He was speaking during a tour of a number of basic schools in the area with the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr. De-graft Fokuo, and some officers of the education directorate to assess the state of education in the area.

Bompata D/A, Bompata AME Zion, Bompata Islamic, Wankyi D/A, and the Adomfe Presbyterian Primary, were among the schools visited.

Mr. Ere-Der said the Directorate he heads, would not forgive any teacher, who gambles with the future of the child, and that, any excuse to stay away from the classroom must be genuine and reasonable.

He cautioned that those absenting themselves without permission would face punitive sanctions.

He urged the school heads to be firm and bold to enforce discipline among the teaching staff and invited all stakeholders to work together to make the school environment friendly to the children and their teachers.

Mr. Fokuo advised the teachers to be mindful of their conduct because of the tremendous influence they have, not only for the kids, but the community in which they teach.

“Many see you as role models and that is why you have to carry yourselves well – be polite, avoid provocative dressing and haircuts.”

He condemned the charging of unapproved fees, which he said, could force some pupils to drop out of school.