Nkoranza (B/A), Feb. 25, GNA - A two-day training workshop organised by Women in Technical Education (WITECH) projects for over 500 school children and parents has ended at Nloranza in Brong Ahafo. It was aimed at sensitising the participants, especially the girls to go in for technical education programmes in schools.

Mrs. Grace Otu-Boateng in-charge of WITECH projects, who addressed the participants, stressed the need for parents to offer the necessary support for their wards in their education by providing them with the basic school needs so as to sustain their interests in school. Mrs. Otu-Boateng expressed grave concern about how a large number of girls who were not able to further their education enter into vocational training such as dressmaking, hairdressing and bakery without engaging themselves in technical projects such as fitting, carpentry, engineering and the like.

He announced that as a result of the wrong notion perceived by the people that fitting, carpentry or engineering were only meant for men, the girls have since a longer time shunned away from undertaking such technical courses.

Mrs. Otu-Boateng explained that it was upon such problems in the society that had made WITECH to organise workshops in selected regions and communities across the country and to educate the people to encourage girls to enter into technical education programmes.

Miss Lily Donkor, an Aircraft Technician of Ghana Airways, who shared her experiences as a role model at the workshop pleaded with the girls to do away with any immoral practices that could have adverse effect on their education and future lifestyles.

Miss Donkor was emphatic on negative practices such as pre-marital sexual practices, which she said, could make the girls to drop out of school when they were pregnant or at worst when they contract the HIV/AIDS pandemic and die at pre-mature age.

Male students should also desist from drunkenness, "Wee" smoking and the taking of hard drugs, which would drag them to go mad and become misfit in the society.

Miss Donkor stressed the need for girls to always have a vision of competing with their male counterparts in all fields of endeavour and with perseverance, they would develop their hidden talents and skills to enhance their living standards.

The District Director of Education Mr Kwabena Agyemang-Badu called on parents to encourage their wards in their education and offer them the necessary support in order to boost their morale to advance in life and they would grow to become responsible citizens to serve the nation.

Mr Agyemang-Badu commended WITECH projects for organizing the workshop at Nkoranza to sensitise parents on their roles and responsibilities towards the upkeep of their wards and to move the district forward.

He pleaded with WITECH to make follow-up visits to find out the developments from the sensitisation workshop and to provide further guidance to promote the lifestyles of the youth.

Miss Sophia Adalingeah, District Girls Education Officer (DGEO) urged girls to resist against boys and men who would approach them and to have sex with them, for in the end they would become embarrassed in life when they terminate their education.

The GES and Cowbell Milk project are offering support towards the organization of workshops designed by WITECH.