Tokokoe, (V/R), July 21, -Parents and communities in the Ho Municipal area have been urged to spare no efforts and resources in giving their wards opportunities that would push them up the academic ladder. It is largely by these means that they could overcome poverty in their families and communities.

Guests and pupils of the Tokokoe L.A. Junior Secondary School (JSS) made the call at an open-day of the school on Wednesday. Mr Victor Mensah, the Municipal Director of Education urged parents and communities to create the necessary conditions both at home and in school to entice their wards to be studious. He therefore appealed to parents not to over-burden their wards with household chores so as to allow enough time and rest for study at home and school.

Mr Mensah said the Directorate was conducting studies into the causes of school drop-out rates in Primary six in the municipal area, especially among girls, results of which would be made available for discussions at the community levels for the necessary remedies. "It is the aim of government that every child of school-going age would, at least end up completing the JSS", Mr Mensah said. Mr Jonathan Klu, Ho Municipal Planning Officer said a family, which is able to support at least one of its children to climb the educational ladder stood a great chance of attaining prosperity because such beneficiaries would in most cases pull others along with them. "And if every family in the community would sacrifice to educate at least one child very well then the entire community could be assured of development and prosperity", he said.

Madam Lena Alai, Volta Regional Co-ordinator of the National Council on Women and Development (NCWD) impressed on parents especially women to strive to educate their daughters at any cost in order to enrich their families and the community.

She explained that an educated woman would, among other positive contributions, bring up quality children and ensure that they are well educated and therefore, help enrich the community. Mr Felix Nyangamagu, Headmaster of the School said the prolonged absence of a Headmaster for the school had adversely affected the school, which in 1990/1991 academic year turned out the best JSS three pupils in the then Ho district.

He therefore, appealed to the Municipal Directorate of Education "not to hesitate in posting a substantive head to the school anytime a vacancy is created."

Mr Nyangamagu said there is an urgent need for relevant textbooks in the subjects being taught at the JSS level throughout the country.

He appealed to parents and stakeholders in education in the community to help get their wards interested in reading and learning instead of watching films on television.