Twifu-Hemang(C/R), Feb. 22, GNA- The Twifo-Heman-Lower Denkyira district directorate of education has organised a series of 'capacity development' workshops for teachers in the district to help step up academic performance.

The workshops, which were organised for both public and private school teachers, have been necessitated by the poor performance of basic schools in the basic education certificate examination (BECE) in which 12 schools in the area had zero per cent last year.

Speaking at Twifo-Hemang on Thursday, the District Director of Education, Ms Regina Longdon, stressed the need for teachers, to be abreast with modern teaching methods.

She said they should also be capable of discerning the learning disabilities of the children they handle, to enable them evolve the requisite measures to assist them.

Sedco-Longmans and Unimax Macmillan, both Book Publishing companies presented 'teachers guides,' science and mathematics books to the Directorate.

The participants at the workshops organised with the assistance of World Vision International and the Department for International Development (DFID), suggested that they should be held regularly to enhance their methods of teaching.

Meanwhile the Directorate has held a workshop for members of School Management Committees (SMCs) at Wawase near Twifo-Praso to sensitise parents, opinion leaders and communities on the need to contribute towards the effective running of schools.

Ms Longdon stressed the need for the participants to develop a sense of ownership for the schools and to visit them regularly to interact with the teachers to motivate them to improve academic standards.

She urged them to ensure that their children used their time after school hours profitably, instead of attending film shows, concerts and funerals.