Sekondi, March 4 GNA - Very Reverend Emmanuel Ebow Walters, Western Regional Manager of Methodist Education Unit on Thursday advised children to help safeguard the country's hard-won independence by studying hard to acquire skills relevant to its development.

He gave the advice when addressing a parade of pupils of Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDC) in the Shama-Ahanta East Metropolis to commemorate the 47th Independence anniversary in Sekondi. Rev. Walters said it was only when children are well educated and skilled that they would be able to continue the country's development and protect its independence in future.

He expressed concern that some parents have not realized the relevance of quality education to national development and are not paying much attention to the educational needs of their wards. Rev. Walters said, while some parents are doing their utmost best to educate their children, others are adamant and prefer spending on trivial things.

He called on parents who are not giving their wards the necessary assistance in their education to change their attitude, and give their children the opportunity to become responsible citizens who can take over the mantle of leadership.

Reverend Walters spoke of the importance of pre-school education to the overall education of children, adding that, children would be able to perform well in Junior and Senior Secondary Schools only when given good foundation at the pre-school level.

He said teaching is a difficult profession and urged parents to encourage teachers to give of their best.

Miss Theresa Yankah, an assistant director of education in-charge of girl-child education and human resource at the Metropolitan Education Office said pre-school education is now part of the basic education structure.

She said the change had been made to enable children to acquire good educational foundation at pre-school so that they could perform creditably at Junior and Secondary Schools.

Miss Yankah observed that inadequate supervision was one of the reasons why some Junior Secondary Schools had poor results in the Basic Education Certificate Examination, and said this was been addressed. Mr. Mike Abban, Regional Manager of the Anglican Education Unit, took the salute.

Schools that took part in the celebration included Nana Brempong Yaw, Effia-Kuma, Dwomo Methodist, Ketan Methodist, School for the Deaf, Inchaban and Nana Kofi Badu, Sofokrom. The children also put up cultural displays and sang patriotic songs. 04 March 04