Mrs Matilda Amissah-Arthur, the second lady, on Tuesday called on parents to invest in the education of their children to enable them to become responsible citizens.

She said quality education was the greatest asset parents could offer their children, adding that there should be no excuse why children should be left out of school.

Mrs Amissah-Arthur said this at the third Speech, Awards and Graduation ceremony of the Association Community International School in Accra on the theme: “Providing Quality Basic Education: A Necessary Investment for All."

She said education helped to shape and mould students and, therefore, it was the responsibility of parents to be concerned about their wards’ education for future benefits.

Mrs Amissah-Arthur said the teacher-training colleges in the country must be resourced and equipped to carry out their operations effectively and improve the educational sector.

She presented three laptops to the school and thanked its management for their efforts in shaping the students and urged them (students) to learn hard to be a responsible adult in the future.

Mrs Evelyn Oduro-Owusu, Municipal Director of Education at La Dadekotopon, said the Ghana Education Service (GES) had organized literacy accelerated programmes for schools to ensure that children were able to read and write in Ghanaian languages.

She said the GES had also instituted proper hygiene programme with support from the United Nations Children's Fund. The aim is to ensure good hygiene among students and ensure that food venders operate in a healthy environment.

Mrs Oduro-Owusu urged teachers and parents to inculcate discipline in children to ensure that educational standards were maintained.

Mrs Rosamond Amoako Apenteng, headmistress of the school, said the school registered 67 students for the Basic Education Certificate Examination and had 97 per cent pass and hope to get 100 per cent this year.

She said the school lacked Information and Communication Technology unit and library for effective teaching and enhanced learning for staff and students.

Mrs Apenteng, therefore, appealed to government to help the school acquire those facilities.

Surveyor Meister Afriyie, Chairman for the programme, also appealed to parents to make their wards’ education a priority.

Awards were given to deserving students and staff who distinguished themselves in various endeavours.