Ashanti cadet corps seek parliamentary backing

The Ashanti Regional cadet corps has proposed a national dialogue and legislative backing to make cadet training mandatory for all students in senior high schools.

The cadet corps argue that legislative support to make cadet fitness training compulsory in second cycle institutions would help instill discipline and moral uprightness in students for their future career pursuit and promote national development.

Mr Felix Atingyena, Ashanti Regional Cadet Coordinator, made the proposal at the ninth session of steeplechase exercise in Jamasi that witnessed 70 schools participating.

He said the basic military training given to cadets’ students like drill exercise, steeplechase (an obstacle race in athletics), and hiking set them apart from their compatriot in terms of health, respect for authority and conformity to school rules and regulations.

Mr Atingyena, who is also a tutor in St Monica’s Senior High School, Asante Mampong, said some schools underscoring discipline associated with cadet training have made it a practice of selecting senior school prefect from their cadet corps.

Sergeant Maxwell Darkwa, Physical Training Instructor from the Four Infantry Battalion in Kumasi, told the Ghana News Agency discipline is the hallmark of cadet training that prepare students to be patriotic and committed to national values.

Sergeant Darkwa added that physical training help boost students’ confidence level, endurance and toughens them to carry out their schedule duties responsibly.

He said military instructors usually had lesser task during training with student cadets recruited into the army because they already had the basic understanding of the fundamentals and practice.

The national cadet corps was established in 1954, at Ghana Secondary School in Takoradi with the aim to instill discipline and loyalty into students.

Currently, the corps has over 35 thousand cadet members in all the 10 regions.