Broken marriages contribute to high school dropout rate

Agogoso (Ash), July 31, GNA - Residents of Agogoso, a farming community in the Atwima District, have attributed the high school dropout rate especially among girls in the area to lack of parental care and control as a result of broken marriages.

The School Management Committee (SMC) has been asked to counsel the affected parents and guardians on the need to provide their children and wards with their basic needs and requirements.

These were among decisions taken after the joint inauguration of SMC and Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) executives.

The residents also agreed to put up a block of three classrooms for the junior secondary school and renovate the primary school block. Mr Kwasi Twumasi-Ankrah, Assemblyman for Agogoso, said the projects would be financed through deductions of one kilogram on each bag of cocoa produced in the area and a special PTA levy.

Mr Baffour Asare-Bediako, Assistant Director of Education at Atwima District Education Office, said the successful implementation of the country's education policies and programmes depended on the support and co-operation from the communities.

He said he was not happy about the rivalry between SMC and PTA executives in some parts of the country.

''This does not augur well for the effective development and promotion of education.''

Mr M. K. Mawuse, the SMC Chairman and Mr Thomas Yeboah, the PTA Chairman, appealed to parents to restrain their children from attending video shows, funerals, concerts and other social functions meant for adults. Nana Kofi Ansere, Chief of Agogoso, said he was grateful to Catholic Archdiocese of Kumasi for putting up a block of three classrooms for the community and appealed to the resident and non-resident citizens to help uplift education in the area.