Parents advised against imposing courses on children

Kumasi, Oct. 23, GNA - Parents have been advised against the practice of either imposing courses on their children or forcing them to select particular schools against their wishes.

Mr Yusif Agyare, Headmaster of the T.I. Ahmadiyya Secondary School (AMASS), Kumasi, who gave the advice said parents could only counsel and guide their wards in the choice of courses and schools, but had no moral right to compel their wards to opt for particular courses or schools. Mr Agyare gave the advice in a report he presented to an emergency meeting of the T.I. AMASS Parent-Teacher-Association (PTA) Meeting held in Kumasi on Saturday to discuss among other issues the funding of a classroom block, the purchase of a mini school bus and the construction of a girls' dormitory.

The Headmaster said the tendency of some parents to make such choices for their wards in respect of courses and schools should be discouraged since it could often jeopardize or impede the chances of children's success in education.

Mr Agyare made it clear that "if a parent succeeds in a particular course of study and manages to attend a particular school it does not mean that his or her ward must also necessary follow the same steps". The Headmaster commended the PTA for initiating numerous development projects for the school and entreated them not to rest on their oars but to continue with such initiatives to bring full relief in terms of progress to the school.

While commending the GETFUND for initiating the construction of a science laboratory for the school Mr Agyare also appealed to the GETFUND to strive to expedite action on works on the project to enhance its speedy completion.

The project, which started 2004, is still at the ground floor level.

The Headmaster said currently the science laboratories are housed in the classroom blocks, which is not good enough for study of the sciences especially practical works. Alhaji Othman Yahya, The T.I. AMASS PTA Chairman, commended the students for their discipline and strike free record set since the inception of the school in 1950.

He said it was an achievement the school should not only maintain and pride over, but also improve upon at all levels. Alhaji Yahya stressed the need for maintenance of clean environments and personal hygiene by students on campus since according to him, "knowledge and excellence without good health or an ability to maintain clean environments and personal hygiene, is meaningless". 23 Oct. 05