Lawra, (U/WR) Feb. 17, GNA - A total of 500 school children drawn from various primary and junior secondary schools in the Lawra district of the Upper West Region were on Monday given a special treat as part of activities winding up a belated end of year party for children in the region.

Each of the children received 12 notebooks, a lunch pack and a can of soft drink while a consignment of exercise and textbooks were also handed over to the district education office for re-distribution to various schools in the district.

The programme, which was organized by the regional offices of Ghana National Commission on children was supposed to be organized in December last year but due to some reasons, it had to be postponed to early this year.

Mr. Stephen Engmen, Special Assistant to the Upper West Regional Minister who, read the president's address called on parents to invest in the education of their children since the development of the future depended solely on them.

He said the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs has developed a ten- year national plan of action which would identify the goals, objectives and strategies that would be employed to empower children socially to develop their potentials.

He further appealed to the school children to abstain from alcohol, drugs and pre-marital sex as that could ruin their future in society. Mrs. Clare Der, regional co-ordinator of Ghana National Commission on Children advised parents to send their children to school as part of the fulfilment of parental responsibilities in society.

She expressed concern about the high rate of school drop-out in the region and called on the children to brace up themselves towards future challenges that could make them responsible adults.

Mr. George Pireh, deputy district director of education appealed to parent-teacher associations of various schools and assembly members to collaborate effectively to ensure efficiency in school administrations.