Regional News of Thursday, 23 June 2011

Source: GNA

"Maintain discipline in schools,"- Municipal Education Director

Obuasi, June 23, GNA - Stakeholders in education have been urged to assist and support school authorities to maintain the required discipline in schools to promote better and quality education delivery.

Mr Johnny Owusu-Boadi, Obuasi Municipal Director of Education, who made the call, said parents should not leave the maintenance of school discipline to Headmasters alone.

Speaking on the theme, "For a better and quality education Get all involved", at a breakfast meeting of stakeholders in education, , the Municipal Director said recent newspaper reports of some immoral teachers make it imperative for stakeholders to team up with school authorities to ensure proper discipline in schools.

The meeting was organized by the Obuasi branch of the Ghana National Association of Private schools (GNAPS).

"Parents responsibility towards the education of their wards does not end with the provision of the wards basic needs. Parents should themselves be role models of their children and help them to develop interest in schooling", Mr Owusu-Boadi said.

He appealed to stakeholders to use parent-teacher associations (PTA's) and school management committees (SMCs) to check the rate at which school lands were being encroached upon.

Mr Emmanuel Ntoso, the Deputy Municipal Co-ordinating Director, who deputized for the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), said it was a challenge to stakeholders in education to help in improving academic standards in senior high schools in the municipality.

He said the assembly would continue to create the necessary conditions for the smooth operations of private schools in the area. Mr Ntoso commended the private schools for its continued support to assembly programmes, particularly the last Independence parade, which was boycotted by the public schools.

The immediate past General Secretary of GNAPs Mr Eric Forson said the association was committed to providing education to Ghanaian children to help eradicate illiteracy.

He said the growth of the association required commitment and dedication from members and appealed to them to pay their dues and development levies.

Mr Peter Owusu Ansah, Deputy Municipal Social Welfare Officer, appealed to the proprietors of day care centres to provide play ground and properly ventilated classrooms to help the growth of the children.

Officials from the Labour Department, Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Internal Revenue Service and the Police Service participated in the breakfast meeting.