Accra, Aug 19, GNA- Dr Mustapha Ahmed, Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, on Thursday urged parents to be responsible and prioritise the education of their children since that was the only key to a successful and sustainable future.

Dr Ahmed said investment in the education of the youth is the surest way for the nation to attain socio-economic development and that government would provide the needed support to all who are committed to the cause of ensuring that the youth are adequately prepared as leaders in the country.

The Minister was addressing the graduation ceremony of pupils of Kindergarten '2' and Primary '6' of Eve-Godson International School, a private school in Accra.

Dr Ahmed, who is also the Member of Parliament for Ayawaso East, said education is a basic right of which every child is entitled to.

He said government has recognised the need to commit resources and ensure that opportunities for development of sustainable youth leadership scheme through education are not compromised.

Dr Ahmed noted that as a result, government has crafted the National Youth Development Policy document which is to ensure effective mobilization of the youth, the engagement of their talents and energies for national development and the creation of an environment which would enable the youth to realise their full potentials as future leaders.

The Minister said government was increasing access to education through the systematic elimination of the school shift system, the abolition of schools-under-trees and various modules under the National Youth Employment Programme.

He acknowledged the pivotal role teachers play and continued to play in the implementation of the new educational reforms and assured them that government would continue to dialogue with their leadership towards improving their conditions of service.

The Minister donated 20 bags of cement to the school towards the construction of its storey building classrooms.

Mrs Evelyn Osei-Tutu, Headmistress of Eve-Godson International School, advised parents to endeavour to bring up their children to be religious and disciplined adding, the best legacies they could bequeath their children were knowledge and skills.

Mrs Osei-Tutu charged parents and guardians to join Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) to enable them to effectively contribute to the development of schools.

She said the school could be described as a “melting pot” since its pupils hail from various African countries.

Mrs Osei-Tutu said the school began as a French and English school and revived in September 2002 with six teachers and 16 pupils.

She said the pioneers of the school are in primary six and that management’s next vision is to put up a storey building that will cater for pre-school to the Junior High School.

As part of the ceremony, there were poetry recitals, cultural display by the pupils and certificates awarded to the grandaunts.