Wa, Feb. 20, GNA - Mr Ambrose Dery, the Upper West Regional Minster, on Tuesday warned Parent/Teacher Associations of first cycle schools to desist from fixing fees for parents to pay.

"The capitation grant has been introduced to take care of all necessary expenses in the basic schools and it is therefore not prudent for executives of PTAs to burden poor parents with school fees," he said at the Head of State's end of year party for children at Charia in the Wa Municipality.

About 500 school children in the Charia community were given a special treat of food and soft drinks at the ceremony which was organized by the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs. He also urged parents to pay their premiums to enable their wards benefit from free medical care under the National Health Insurance Scheme.

Mr George Hikah Benson, Acting Wa Municipal Chief Executive, said the good intentions that had been expressed in the programmes the government had initiated for school children could be undermined by the continued practice of outmoded customs such as forced marriages, elopement and parental irresponsibility.

"Government's efforts will not materialize if parents and guardians fail to play the complementary role expected of them in the proper development of children," he said.