Accra, 16 March GNA - The Very Reverend Professor Samuel Kwasi Adjepong, Principal of Methodist University College, has suggested the introduction of conflict management as a subject in second cycle institutions to help to curb indiscipline.

He said such a subject would train students to appreciate civil and democratic means of dealing with their authorities, particularly, issues affecting them and avoid resorting to riots, which often led to the destruction of property.

Prof. Adjepong was addressing a Conference of Heads of Methodist Second Cycle Schools on Tuesday at Abokobi, in the Greater-Accra Region. The conference was on the theme: Discipline-A Key to Academic Excellence. It brought together 50 Heads of Methodist Second Cycle Schools nationwide, to deliberate on issues relating to discipline and academic performance in Methodist schools.

Prof. Adjepong advised the heads and administrators of these institutions to regularly attend seminars and workshops on conflict management to enable them to acquire the needed skills in dealing with problems affecting their students.

He stated that though there was no direct relationship between discipline and academic excellence, a disciplined mind could perform better academically than an undisciplined mind.

"Although one cannot quantify for the purpose of correlating it statistically with examination results and, therefore, academic performance, the synergistic relationship between discipline and academic excellence is widely acknowledged."

Prof. Adjepong advised educational authorities to focus on virtues such as mutual respect, equity and justice, honesty and transparency, courage and conviction and humility in their efforts to inculcate the tenets of discipline into their students.

The Most Rev Dr Robert Kwasi Aboagye-Mensah, Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, urged school authorities to recognise the role played by Old Student Associations (OSA) in promoting discipline and academic excellence in schools, and asked them to work in close partnership with them.

Rev Aboagye-Mensah said the academic progress of most of the Mission schools in the country could be attributed to the enormous contribution offered by OSAs.

He cited Wesley Girls' High School, Cape Coast; the best performing school in the recent Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (SSSCE), saying its OSA had a hand in its achievement.

He noted that the publication of the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations results was a wake up call to all heads of schools and encouraged the heads of Methodist Second Cycle Schools to often come together to share ideas concerning their weaknesses and strengths to enable them to improve on their performance. The Very Rev Dr Richard Foli, General Director of the Board of Education and Youth, who is also the General Manager of Methodist Schools, said the performance of mission schools in the SSSCE justified the call by religious bodies to the Government to hand over their institutions to them.

"The fact that the 10 top schools are mission schools should indeed gladden the hearts of those of us involved in mission schools in one way or the other. This indeed vindicates the religious bodies that constantly called for the full right to manage and supervise educational institutions in partnership with the Government." 16 March 04