Cape Coast, March 2, GNA - The Central Regional Minister, Mr Isaac Edumadze on Thursday said that the huge investment in the education sector would not achieve the desired results, if students do not remain disciplined and are serious with their studies to be successful. He said as future leaders, they have to "shape their future or destiny now to be able to meet the challenges of the future". The Regional Minister said recent reports of students' indiscipline, with their excessive damage to property in some second cycle institutions was unacceptable. Mr Edumadze said these when he opened the 16th Annual Schools and Colleges Athletics competition at the Adisadel School Park in Cape Coast.

More than 800 students drawn from the 58 Second Cycle schools in the Region are taking part in the two-day competition. The Regional Minister, therefore advised students to channel their grievances appropriately and seek redress at higher levels if their petitions were not satisfactorily handled. Mr Edumadze said that government was encouraging its development partners to support the sector, which he said, was one of the key sectors of the nation, as government alone cannot fully meet financial demands of education and sports.

He therefore appealed to all government agencies to recognize the individual and collective contributions of organisations to the sector and collaborate with them while advising District Assembles to link up with them to ensure that their work plans were incorporated in the Medium Term Development plans to avoid duplication of resources. On the competition, Mr Edumadze reminded the athletes that the event was geared towards promoting unity, fair play and friendship and urged them to comport themselves to achieve such a common objective. He also cautioned them against the deadly HIV/AIDS menace and urged them to join in the crusade against its spread. Mr Albert Ayimful, the Regional Chairman of the Schools and Colleges Sports Federation commended the schools for taking part in the competition and urged the officials to display high sense of professionalism in their work and to assist by restraining the athletes from indulging in acts of indiscipline.

He also tasked the athletes to be disciplined, work hard and comport themselves, stressing that they must be guided by the principle of, "one people with different mindsets independently working to achieve a common objective". Kamal Musah of Boa Amponsem Secondary School came first in the boys 1,500 metres event with Enoch Quansah of Adisadel College and Emmanuel Jackson of Senya Secondary School placing second and third respectively. In the Girls 3,000 metres, Faustina Yankson of Apam Secondary School came first with Joyce Ackon and Gifty Acheampong both of Edinaman Secondary School taking the second and third positions accordingly. 02 March 06