Kumasi, Aug 16, GNA - Madam Patricia Appiagyei, Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, has attributed the high rate of school dropouts and drug abuse among the youth to indiscipline and the lack of respect on the part of the youth.

She said respect for the elderly in the society was a cherished value and therefore entreated the youth to hold to that value wherever they were.

Madam Appiagyei was speaking at the eighth annual residential congress of the Ashanti Regional Students Representative Council (SRC) at the Prempeh College in Kumasi on Monday. The congress, which has as its theme: "Raising Disciplined and Patriotic Future Leaders", is being attended by representatives of all second cycle institutions in Ashanti. In a speech read on her behalf, the Deputy Regional Minister asked students not to get involved in negative practices but to develop self-discipline.

Madam Appiagyei said it was because education was seen as a tool for development that government was making all efforts to help children who had attained the school-going age to enrol.

Mr Emmanuel Kwaku Yeboah, Assistant Headmaster of Prempeh College, urged student leaders to collaborate with the teaching staff to share ideas on how to move their schools forward.

He also charged students to make discipline their hallmark so as to achieve their goals.

Opoku Ware School won the best Headmaster's award instituted by the Ashanti Regional SRC, while Technology Secondary School won the best disciplined school and Prempeh College was adjudged the best school in sports. 16 Aug. 05