Ekumfi Essarkyir (C/R), Feb. 5, GNA - Prof. Kwesi Andam, Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has urged parents to collaborate with teachers in checking indiscipline in schools.

He said the activities of advocates of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child had often scared teachers away from taking strict measures to discipline students whenever they went wrong. Prof Andam said assurances from parents of their support for teachers would enhance the enforcement of discipline not only in schools but also in the society as a whole.

Speaking at a meeting of the Board of Governors of the Ekumfi T.I. Ahmadiyya Secondary School at Ekumfi Essarkyir at the weekend, Prof. Andam, a member of the Board expressed grave concern about the breakdown of discipline in the society, particularly in our educational institution.

He said the future of the nation would be bleak if immediate steps were not taken to reverse the trend.

Mrs Matilda Bannerman Mensah, Mfantseman District Director of Education, said schools with good academic records were those whose students were disciplined adding that discipline was the root of success in life.

Meanwhile the Board has appealed to the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to construct bungalows to accommodate the staff many of who now live outside the school premises, saying many tutors refused postings to the school due to the lack of accommodation. The members also appealed to the GETFund to provide the school with a bus.

The school improved its performance in last year's Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination results placing 126th on the national table as against 131st in 2003.