Accra, July 8, GNA - Mrs Angelina Baiden-Amissah, a Deputy Minister for Education, Science and Sports, has advised students to discard the notion that the practice of occultism in schools would help them achieve academic excellence.

She said one could achieve academic excellence only through extensive studies and discipline.

Mrs Baiden-Amissah made these remarks at the maiden Speech and Prize-Giving Day of the Kinbu Secondary/Technical School in Accra on Saturday.

The Day was on the theme: "Strategies of making Technical and Vocational Education relevant to the Ghanaian economy". She said government would continue to place emphasis on the study of technical and vocational subjects in schools so that graduates would be equipped with job-oriented skills.

The Deputy Minister, a former Assistant Headmistress of the school, said the current labour market was looking for trained and competent craftsmen and women as well as technicians and engineers and that it was industries and institutions manned by skilled workers that produce goods of high quality and also provided efficient services. Mrs Baiden-Amissah said the realization of the national dream of Ghana becoming the gateway to West Africa and indeed the success of the Industrial Free Zone initiative would depend to a large extent on the availability of a cadre of well-trained and skilled men and women who could be relied upon to undertake the many technical and vocational jobs for the effective implementation of the development programmes. She urged the trainees of the institution to work hard to acquire the relevant knowledge and skills needed to promote the future of their well-being.

Mrs Baiden-Amissah also asked them to respect the school authorities and abide by all the school's regulations. The Deputy Minister said by adopting such virtues they would have set the stage to lead disciplined adult lives.

Professor Ralph Asabre, Principal of the Accra Polytechnic, urged parents to take active interest in the education of their children through regular supervision and provide them with proper guidance so that they would grow to become useful citizens. He also urged the students to desist from indulging in nefarious activities, which would ruin their lives but rather concentrate on their education.

Madam Comfort Kissiedu, Headmistress, warned the students against lateness and absenteeism, which was gaining ascendancy in the school. She also advised them to be respectful and take their lessons seriously.