Okumaning (E/R), Oct. 10, GNA - Three hundred and eleven children withdrawn from worst forms of child labour in the Kwaebibirem District and placed in schools are being provided with their second set of school uniforms.

So far 243 of them have received their supply including 56 who were supplied at a ceremony at the Okumaning Methodist Primary School. The uniforms and an earlier package of uniforms, footwear, books, pens and pencils and school bags were made possible through collaboration between the Kwaebibirem District Assembly, the General Agricultural Workers Union of the Ghana Trades Union Congress (GAWU) and the International Labour Organization of the United Nations. Twenty-seven others above school going age have been placed in apprenticeship to acquire skills in dressmaking, hair dressing, masonry, electrical and car straightening and provided with tools. The presentation at Okumaning, just like ceremonies in other schools was done by Mr Kwame Asare Boadu, District GAWU Cor-ordinator, assisted by Miss Rosemary Brown, District Social Welfare Officer. Speaking at the ceremony, the District Chief Executive, Mr Yaw Yiadom-Boakye, said the government was very anxious to ensure that the Ghanaian child was given the proper development to be national asset, able to help in the nation's advancement.

That was why it was assisting parents with interventions such as the school feeding programme and the capitation grant to lighten the burden on parents. Parents should therefore endeavour to ensure that they made whatever sacrifices possible to give their children education since that was the best investment they could make. Mr Yiadom-Boakye called on parents to ensure that they did not burden the children with tasks that could retard their studies and see to it that the children studied at home instead of going to videos or just roaming about aimlessly. The DCE called on children to be serious with their studies and respect their teachers and elders. He said the district assembly and GAWU would assist parents of former child labourers to acquire skills that would enable them to assist their wards. The assembly member for Okumaning, Miss Kate Boatemaa, on behalf of the parents thanked the donors for their assistance. 12 Oct. 08