Free education should not end parents' contributions

Ejisu (Ash), March 14, GNA - Parents have been advised not to see the government's announcement of fee-free education as ending all forms of contributions they are required to make in support of their children in school.

The Reverend J.H. Ofosuhene, Ashanti Regional Manager of the Presbyterian Educational Unit said, "parents should not simply fold up their arms and look up to the government for everything". He was speaking at an Open-Day held by the Ejisu Presbyterian Junior Secondary School (JSS) at Ejisu.

The Rev. Ofosuhene reminded parents that they would need to supplement government's efforts by helping to provide some of the necessary inputs for effective teaching and learning in the schools. He asked them to appreciate education as the most important form of investment they could make for the future of their children. "What we invest in them today would determine what they would be in future and what we stand to gain when we are old".

The Regional Manager condemned the practice where some teachers use school contact hours for private business transactions to the disadvantage of pupils and students.

To check this, he called on school heads to ensure effective supervision of teachers by periodically assessing their performances and submitting reports on them to the District Directors of Education. The Rev. Ofosuhene announced that the school has been selected as one of the model schools under the Presbyterian Educational Management. By this, special attention would be given to the school and that its teachers are going to be motivated.

He said three additional classrooms; a staff common room and a well-furnished library would be built for the school.

The headmistress, Mrs Joana Amoah described the academic performance of the school as commendable, saying in 2003, it scored 100 per cent passes in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and 98 per cent in 2004. 14 March 05