Regional News of Tuesday, 17 November 2009

Source: GNA

Let us not ignore spiritual and moral aspect of education

Adadientem (Ash), Nov. 17, GNA - Prof William O. Ellis, Pro Vice Chancellor, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has said the nation should move away from the traditional education system that focuses primarily on intellectual training, pushing the moral and spiritual aspect into the periphery.

He said there was the need for a holistic education to adequately prepare the youth to deal with the challenges of life, spiritually, emotionally and physically so that they would become more productive and purposeful.

"The absence of this has been the problem of self centeredness, moral bankruptcy and lack of patriotism."

Prof Ellis was addressing the 10th anniversary celebration and the maiden speech and prize given day of the Church of Christ Senior High School at Adadientem in the Ejisu Juaben Municipality.

He said it was important students were encouraged to appreciate that they have individual and collective responsibility to the nation and the effective tool that could be deployed to achieve this is to give them holistic education.

Prof Ellis counselled students against lawlessness, examination malpractices and violence.

Mr J.K Onyinah, Ashanti Regional Director of Education, commended the church for its contribution to the development of education in the country. Mr Kwabena Owusu Aduomi, the Member of Parliament for Ejisu-Juaben, donated 100 bags of cement, two computers, two sets of jerseys, one football and GH¢2,000 to the school.

The Headmaster, Mr Cosmos Owusu Affriyie, said the school that started a decade ago with 15 students now has a student population of 560, some of them coming from Cote d' Ivoire, Nigeria, Liberia and Senegal.

He appealed for public support to expand the structures and build a girls' dormitory.