Education, Mrs Rene Boakye-Boaten has noted that a compliment of sports with academic work plays a significant role in the development of the student.

She therefore advised parents to ensure proper feeding of their wards and provide them with the needed equipment to train in the various sports discipline to enhance their performance and enhance their academic work. Mrs Boakye-Boaten said this at the opening of the 17th Eastern Regional Annual Under-12 Sports Festival at New Abirem in the Birim North District on Thursday.

Over 800 footballers and athletics from 17 out of the 21 Districts of the Region are competing in soccer for the Under-12 boys and Under-15 girls, netball, table tennis and 300 metres for boys and girls. Mrs Boakye-Boaten gave the assurance that the Ghana Education Service (GES) will lay emphasis on teaching of Physical Education (PE) in the schools and urged Physical Education (P.E) Co-ordinators to visit the schools, especially those in the remote areas to enhance the promotion and development of sports among school children. She said a percentage of the Capitation Grant that was currently being allocated for sports indicates the high premium that the government puts on sports promotion and development in the schools. Mrs Boakye-Boaten advised the children to be disciplined and concentrate on their studies to pass their examinations with distinction to become responsible adults in the future.

She urged those of them who would excel in the various disciplines to gain selection to represent the Region at the National Sports Festival in Takoradi to train harder to win more laurels for the Region. The District Co-ordinating Director, Nana Owu urged the P.E Co-ordinators to assist the children to develop their talents in the various sports disciplines to be able to represent the nation on the international sporting arena. In an opening football match, New Juaben Municipal defeated the host District Birim North by 5-4 on penalties.