New Abirem (E/R), Sept 21, GNA - There was shock and disbelief at this year's "My First Day at School" at New Abirem when Ms Akosua Tiwaah, Head of Girl-Child Education of the District Education Directorate, revealed that 60 Junior High School (JHS) girls from the Birim North District got pregnant in 2008 with only one returning to continue her education after delivery.

Ms Tiwaah said 11 of the girls wrote their Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) with their pregnancies. Instead of the usual visit to schools by government officials and those from the Ghana Education Service (GES), a mini-durbar involving first year pupils in kindergarten, primary and JHS, teachers, parents, the District Chief Executive and some assembly members was held to observe the occasion.

The District Chief Executive, Mr Napoleon Amoako Asiamah, expressed shock at the revelation said it was a collective challenge to parents, the church and other stakeholders to ensure proper upbringing of children to avoid what he described as the "unacceptable situation." The District Director of Education, Mr Charles Eric Atakorah, said last year four schools scored zero percent in the BECE and said it was a big challenge to him to ensure a reversal of the trend with the co-operation of other stakeholders.

Mr Atakorah said he would not accept lateness, absenteeism, laziness and drunkenness from any teacher and also appealed to parents to ensure that their children study at home since the classroom alone could not help.

The Abiremhene, Nana Amo Kyeretwie I, said beginning from this academic year the traditional authority would send people to homes to ensure that all children of school-going age go to school and warned that if any child was found at home the parents or guardian would be questioned.

The chief said the traditional authority had banned attendance of children below the age of 18 years at video centres to help check teenage pregnancy.