A survey in the Sekondi- Takoradi Metropolis has revealed that 80 per cent of pupils, who hawk after school, do so deep into the night.

The pupils, who are exposed to motor accidents and other hazards, go to school the next day so tired that they are unable to do well academically.

Mrs Angelina Mensah, Circuit Supervisor of Education in charge of the New Takoradi and Accra Road schools, announced at the first Pupils' Award Day held in Takoradi on Tuesday.

She said one disturbing outcome was that the pupils learn very bad habits from the streets. Mrs Mensah appealed to parents, who are compelled to use their children in their business ventures, to ensure that all such activities come to an end by 18:00 hours to allow them time to study.

She said some children have been maimed and others have killed in motor accidents in accidents and called on parents not to ruin the future of their children.

Mr Joseph C. Quansah, Shama Ahanta East Metropolitan Director of Education urged parents to motivate their children to give of their best academically.

He also called on them to pay special attention to the training of their children by monitoring their activities at home and in the school.

He said, "many parents are only interested in the payment of the school fees of their children while their day to day supervision is neglected".

Mr Quansah said currently, teachers and headteachers in the Metropolis were undergoing in-service training in new methodology in the educational reform programme and asked parents to assist by playing their complementary role.

Thirty-six pupils drawn from various schools in the circuit were presented with books and certificates for participating in quiz competitions organised recently while Miss Belinda Cobbinah of the New Takoradi Primary School was adjudged the neatest girl in the Circuit.

Ridge International School, which took both the first and second positions in the kindergarten and primary levels, were presented with two sets of computers with accessories. Poasi Methodist Primary took home a gas cooker as the third prize.

Badu-Addo Junior Secondary School (JSS) took away a computer for coming first at the JSS level.

An endowment fund was also launched to support brilliant but needy students and provide computers in the circuit to promote quality education.