Don't accept vices for a character -Students told

Mampong (Ash), May 9, GNA - Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor, Minister of Defence, has expressed misgiving about student's acceptance of vices for a character to the extent that those who objected to these vices are branded as fanatics, extremists and intolerants.
He said this against the background that institutions of higher-learning which are supposed to be a breeding place of the nation's social, political, economic and religious leaders, have turned out to be places where vices are perpetrated.
Dr Addo Kufuor who was delivering his keynote address at the 35th speech and prize-giving day of the Saint Monica's Training College at Asante-Mampong on Saturday, said the situation was connected with the falling educational standards exacerbated with various forms of academic dishonesty and examination malpractices.
It was held under the theme: "A Disciplined Female Teacher -A Tool For National Development".
The way forward, he noted was for students of higher institutions to re-orientate themselves on values that build a healthy, progressive and virile society.
The Defence Minister said the task of rescuing students from moral corruption was very challenging and asked parents, religious bodies and all stakeholders in education to lend a helping hand to the government and school authorities in their guest to re-direct deviant students to the path of rectitude.
He observed that the best fashion was the simplest form of dressing without the complications of indecent exposures. To this end, he admonished female teachers to dress modestly so as to serve as worthy role models to the children and the youth entrusted to their care.
Dr Addo Kufuor said the era that the college suffered neglect was over and promised the college administration of greater things to happen in the college in terms of educational infrastructure and other teaching materials.
He cherished the numerous achievements of the college notably in the fields of the academics, sports and discipline.
The Defence Minister, who had earlier inaugurated a two-unit staff bungalows built by the college's Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) and an electricity generator also provided by the association, thanked the PTA for its supportive spirit.
He announced that 3.5 billion cedis have been made available for the rehabilitation and expansion of facilities at Mampong Water Headworks.
Mrs Agnes Ofosu-Koranteng, Principal of the college, paid a glowing tribute to the founding sisters of Saint Monica's Schools Complex.
She catalogued the achievements of the college as well as the infrastructure problems confronting it.
The Right-Reverend Daniel Yinkah-Sarfo, the Anglican Bishop of Kumasi, who presided over the function, asked heads of educational institutions to institute an empowering programme to deal with the root causes of indiscipline and moral corruption among students rather than symptoms of these vices.
Bishop Yinkah-Sarfo advocated a balanced development of the physical, moral and spiritual life of students with the concomitant power and strength to say "No" to evil.
Prizes were given to students who distinguished themselves in the academics and other related disciplines.
An appeal for fund in aid of assembly hall complex project yielded 30 million cedis.