The New Juaben Municipal Assembly recorded 9,000 births in 2002 as against 23,000 registered in 2000. The low turn up in the registration has been attributed to the 10,000 cedis fee charged on every registered child at Births and Deaths Registry.

The Eastern Regional Director of Births and Deaths, Mr A.E Karim said this at the celebration of the Day of the African Child yesterday at Koforidua. The theme for the celebration was: "birth registration is a child right."

Mr Karim said the Government has waived the 10,000 cedis fee on any children up to one-year old that would be registered to ensure that every child is registered. He, therefore, stressed the need for all parents to use the opportunity to register their children.

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Nana Adjei Boateng, expressed regrets that some parents still fail to send their children to school and this he noted, has worsened the already existing high literacy rate and child delinquency. He said the education of the child is the best investment and legacy one can bequeath to his children and said the Assembly is considering using its byelaws to ensure that parents live up to expectation.

The MCE said the Assembly and the Education Ministry have over the past two years, been assisting 200 needy but brilliant children in the Municipality with school uniforms, bags and shoes. He noted that lack of dedicated, efficient and knowledgeable teachers for the basic schools has contributed to the falling standard of education and indiscipline among school children.

Nana Boateng called for proper supervision of teachers and the need for teachers who are found to be inefficient or "morally bankrupt" to be sanctioned.