Fufuo (Ash), March 4, GNA- Parents are to be blamed for the poor academic performance of pupils at Fufuo near Barekese in the Atwima district of Ashanti.

Poor parental control and care, the engagement of children on farms by parents during school hours, taking grown up children from school to look after their younger brothers and sisters at home, were identified as some of the factors encouraging the increase in the school drop out rate in the area.

Other factors include gambling by the pupils, early sex and the patronage of video houses.

These formed part of the issues that were raised at a forum organised by the Quality Improvement in Primary Schools (QUIPS) under the Community School Alliance (CSA) project.

It was sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) at Fufuo on Wednesday at a three-day re-mobilisation exercise to evaluate the standard of education in the country. Addressing the forum, Mr Joshua Baidoo, leader of the QUIPS/CSA team, advised parents to develop trust, confidence and respect for teachers and work closely with them to improve upon the standard of education in the area.

He also advised parents to control the movement of their children after school, supervise their studies at home, offer them the needed guidance and counselling, instil discipline and moral values in them. Mr Kofi Addai Ohene-Beng, a member of the QUIS/CSA team, urged parents to invest in their wards education and provide them with their basic needs.