Winneba (C/R), May 2, GNA - Mr Amin Abubakari, a final-year student at the Guidance and Counselling Department of the University of Education, Winneba has advised students to dispel the notion that occultism could help them pass examinations. He urged students to avoid the occultist practice and rather learn hard to become successful citizens. Mr Abubakari was delivering a paper at a symposium organised by the Department at the Winneba Senior High School. It was under the topic: "Dangers of occultism in senior high schools". He said currently the practice was a major contributing factor in high student dropout, adding that it also led to vices such as pilfering, illicit relationships and robbery. According to him, many students who practice occultism believe that they have spiritual powers, which they can use to blindfold people and steal them. He said the supposed spiritual powers failed them and they are caught and either dismissed by school authorities or they drop out voluntarily out of embarrassment. He said such students became afraid that they would be harmed by the occult should they dare disclose the information. "Students who practise occultism have their moral and civic fibre weakened in their communities," he added. Mr Abubakari appealed to the guidance and counselling unit of the Ghana Education Service to educate students on the harmful effects of occultism.