Akrokerri (Ash) July 4, GNA - Mr Michael K. Nsowah, a former Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has advised students in mining areas not to drop out for illegal mining, (galamsey) because it affords no job security.

He has, therefore, urged parents to discourage their wards from engagin= g in the trade but rather encourage them to take their schooling seriously. Speaking at the first open day of the Akrokerri College of Education Practice Schools, at Akrokerri, the former Director-General tasked parents to commit to the education of their children because it is the only guarantee a secure future for them.

Mr Nsowah expressed regret that as a result of the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) programme some parents had completely shirked their responsibilities towards educating their children. However, he said, these same parents invest heavily in special cloths during funerals and other related activities.

"Parents' interest in buying new cloths for funerals and other fune= ral programmes should give way to investments in the education of their children," Mr Nsowah stressed. The former director-general, who played a key role in the establishmen= t of Practice Schools when he was a tutor and principal of the College of Education said: 93I am now happy that the schools we struggled to get have now become a place of excellence, turning out graduates with some pursuing medicine."

Mr Nsowah said education had become competitive and, therefore, urged the parents to collaborate effectively with the teachers so that they could give of their best to the pupils and students. He advised the old students not to wait for open days but visit the school regularly and offer the needed support for the benefit of the curren= t students.

Mr Seth Ogoe, Vice Principal of the college, said the college would se= e how best it could help solve the transportation problem confronting the pupils and students of the Practice Schools. The headmaster of the schools, Mr Nsiah Boakye, expressed regret that the kindergarten pupils were housed in a dilapidated structure and appealed for permanent classrooms to offer ideal environment for the beginners.