Accra, March 6 GNA - Mr Yaw Osafo Maafo, Minister of Education and Sports on Sunday called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) to empower teachers to ensure discipline in the classroom.

He said without discipline it would be difficult to provide effective teaching and learning in the classrooms.

Mr Osafo Maafo was speaking at the refreshment and presentation of awards to schools that took part at the Independence Square Parade at the State House in Accra.

The awards were to honour basic and second cycle schools and cadet contingents that had excelled at the parade.

He commended the school children for their smart turnout at the parade, and said they should continue to exhibit the same discipline that they displayed at the march past.

The Minister assisted by the Acting Director-General of the GES, Mr Michael Nsowah presented shields donated by Nestle Ghana Limited and cash prizes to the deserving schools.

The first three schools in each of the categories received 1.2 million cedis; one million cedis and 800,000 cedis, in that order.

In the basic schools category, Ashiedu Keteke Sub Metro Schools came first with 123 points, High Street SDA were second with 122 points while Ablekuma Sub Metro Schools finished third with 121 points.

At the second cycle level, Faith Christian Academy, Kotobaabi was first with 141 points, followed by Presbyterian Secondary School, Osu, with 139 points while Nungua Secondary School came third with 137 points.

With the cadet contingents, Christian Methodist Naval Cadet scored 139 points to take the first position, St. Thomas Acquinas Police Cadet placed second with 131 points while Armed Forces Secondary Technical Cadet were third with 130 points.

Present was Ms Elizabeth Ohene, Minister-Designate, of Tertiary Education.