Kumasi, Aug 7, GNA - The Ashanti Regional Directorate of Education has banned the wearing of "Otto Pfister" shorts by male pupils and students in schools in the region.

It has also directed all heads of educational institutions to institute stringent measures to instil greater discipline among pupils and students in their schools.

Mr Osman Adjei, Regional Guidance and Counselling Co-ordinator, who made this known, said Mrs Belinda Serwaah Addo, Regional Director of Education, had already issued a circular to that effect to all heads of schools.

The measure, he said was part of efforts to curb deviant behaviour and other negative attitudes in schools.

Mr Adjei was speaking at the third graduation of the Christian Preparatory School at Bomso in Kumasi.

He charged parents to take greater responsibility in the upbringing of their children and inculcate good moral behaviour in them. Mr Adjei advised the pupils to shun bad company, obey their parents and teachers and concentrate on their studies in order to attain higher academic laurels.

Dr S. B. Obeng, Director of the school, appealed to parents to sacrifice in order to provide quality education to their children. Mr Stephen A. Kwarko, Headmaster of the school, said despite the introduction of the capitation grant and the increase in the number of private schools in the area, the school continued to enjoy increased enrolment.
He attributed it to high academic performance and good moral and Christian training given to the children and commended the staff of the school for their hard work and dedication.
Alhaji Alhassan Ibrahim, chairman of the Parent-Teacher-Association, appealed to the government to extend the capitation grant and the GETfund to the private schools to enable them charge affordable fees and lessen the burden of parents, who were also tax payers.