Regional News of Saturday, 3 August 2013

Source: Desmond Bress-Biney

Parents, teachers must work together for quality education - G.B.K. Owusu

Parents and teachers have been urged to team up and offer quality education not only to their respective communities but also to the nation at large.

Mr. G.B.K.Owusu, a Media Consultant, gave this advice at the Second graduation and prize giving ceremony of Faith Presbyterian Basic School, Madina Estate, Accra, recently

According to the Media Consultant, education is the key to success in every endeavor and parents and teachers must contribute to support quality education.

More so, quality education is further described as any form of knowledge acquired for the benefit of the individual, community and the nation.

The Consultant, however, stressed that educating a child is neither the sole responsibility of the teacher nor parent, but a joint effort of all the stakeholders, adding, there is a perception that the standard of education was on the decline and wondered whose fault it was.

He, therefore, advised teachers to teach pupils with new teaching materials and illustrations in addition to encouraging the children to show interest in modern technologies especially the knowledge of the computer.

Mr. Owusu cautioned teachers to exhibit professionalism and avoid the attitude of ignoring children with lower abilities. He appealed to teachers to occasionally invite parents to discuss the performance of their wards and lamented the rampant spoken of ‘pidgin English’ which he observed was doing a great harm to both their written and spoken grammar. He advised teachers not to speak ‘pidgin English’ when communicating with the children, and rather insist on the correct use of words and pronunciations.

While appealing to the School Board to provide the necessary motivation that will boost the morals of the teachers, he also suggested that, parents must provide the needs of their wards on time, stressing on decent accommodation, feeding, clothing and books. Above all, he went on, parents must show love, affection and concern to their wards. This, he said, include the inspection of their homework before sleep time, and the knowledge of their health and other problems.

The Media Consultant reminded parents that the adage ‘Charity begins at home’ should guide them to give their children sound moral training especially simple courtesies such as how to say ‘please,’ ‘thank you,’ ‘l am sorry,’ and ‘forgive me,’ not to mention the avoidance of vulgar language and the importance of being courteous, respectful and humble.

In her address, Miss Cynthia Darko, head teacher, disclosed that computer and science laboratory would begin next season.

She assured parents that the teachers would do their utmost to maintain the high standard of education in the school. “Apart from the impressive educational standard we devote time to spirit fill them with the Word of God and the legendary Presbyterian discipline,” She added.

In his concluding remarks, the Chairman for the occasion, Mr. F.M.K. Ashie, appealed to parents not to allow their children to watch indecent films on television and further check their movements to the internet cafes.