Saltpond (Central Region) - The Minister of State in-charge of Basic, Secondary and Girl-Child Education, Miss Christine Churcher, at the weekend said it is not true that highly educated women find it difficult to get husbands.

She said the notion was a ploy to distract the attention of girls from attaining high academic laurels and urged girls and their parents to disregard it.

Speaking at the 22nd Speech and Prize-giving Day of the Methodist High School at Saltpond, Miss Churcher said quality education should be more relevant to the poor since it could get them out of the poverty circle. She urged the poor to cut down their expenses on habits that did not benefit them and social activities such as funerals and to invest in their children's education.

The Minister advised children from rural areas to strive to lift themselves up, saying, "Where one hails form does not matter but what one can make out of the place where he or she hails".

The Reverend Ama Afo Blay, Director General of the Ghana Education Service, reminded heads and staff of schools that education meant more than merely imparting knowledge and skills to students, saying, it included character-building and instilling in the individual values that promoted development.

She mentioned discipline, achievements in sports, drama and music as some of the factors, which contributed to make a good school. Rev Afo Blay expressed concern about indiscipline in the society and said guidance and counselling services in schools were to be stepped up to help students identify and understand aspects of their lives, which had to be put in perspective to ensure a successful future.

Reverend Solomon Grant Essilfie, headmaster and the School Prefect, Master Peter Dennis, said the problems of the school included inadequate hostel facilities, computers, furniture, science laboratory and a library. The headmaster said out of 95 students presented for the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination last year, 22 passed in eight subjects, 21 in seven subject, 16 in five and eight in four subjects; eight in three subjects whilst four and three passed in two and one subject respectively with one student failing in all subjects.

He said one boy had six "A"s and one "B" while another had four "A"s and two "B"s. Rev. Essilfie said the school, through its meagre resources has managed to construct five classrooms within one year and has also renovated some abandoned buildings to accommodate two teachers.

He commended the PTA for putting up a three-classroom block and renovating some garages to serve as Boys Hostel and a canteen. The headmaster expressed gratitude to the former District Chief Executive for Mfantseman, Kofi Wilson, for donating a set of track suits costing about ?16m to the school.

He also commended GHACEM for donating 150 bags of cement to the school for the renovation of an abandoned building to be used for a Girl's Hostel. Jacob Arthur, MP for Mfantseman West, called for a national debate on whether mission schools should be handed over to the Churches.

He donated two chargeable lamps to the school. Prizes were awarded to deserving students and staff.