Madina, Sept 13, GNA -- Parents of Senior High and Tertiary School students have been urged to collaborate with school authorities to formulate measures aimed at curbing the practice of occultism in the country's schools.

Occultism has recently gained root among students of Senior High Schools and Tertiary Institutions, especially those in the boarding houses and hostels.

A Lecturer of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Mr Joseph Agyenim Boateng who gave the advice, expressed worry over the rate at which occultism was gaining grounds in the schools. Speaking at the 2008 National Campus Community Congress of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry Campus Fellowship at Madina, he observed that some students also practice occultism to gain popularity while others were pressurized into it by friends.

The congress which was on the theme: "Invasion 08, recapturing the lost territories" was attended by students from the various public and private tertiary institutions in the country as well as national service personnel.

Mr. Boateng said students continuously practice occultism against the rules and regulations of the various schools, noting that it was time parents augment the efforts of school authorities to curb the practice. The Lecturer encouraged parents to visit their wards in school unannounced, adding that, by so doing, they would discover some activities the students were involved in as well as the type of friends they were moving with.

He added that parents must also question their children on expensive goods they acquire from school without their (parents) knowledge as most of the students enter into occultism to gain material things that others have in school.

Mr. Boateng pleaded with students not to fall victims to occult practices as it haD negative effectS on their education and personal life.

The National Coordinator of the Church, Pastor John Borham in a sermon entreated the students to put into practice the teachings they received from the church in order to be morally upright. Pastor Borham said the youth must embrace the tenets of morality to enable them stand the numerous temptations tertiary students go throw in their quest to obtain higher education. He expressed concern at the increasing rate of immorality including defilement, drug peddling, alcoholism, indiscipline, robbery and indecent dressing among others. He stated that the nation spends a lot of revenue to deal with effects of such immoral behaviours leading to the inability of governments to provide the needed developments 13 Sept. 08