School pupils banned from social gatherings in Sefwi Paboase

The Sefwi Paboase community has banned wake-keeping, evening video shows and the patronage of funerals by school pupils within the community.

Parents of school pupils caught loitering within the Paboase community after 8pm at any of these events will be disciplined while the pupils will also be sanctioned.

Nana Frimpong Manso II, Chief of Sefwi Paboase announced this at the handing over of a six- unit classroom block with ICT laboratory and offices valued at 122,000 dollars constructed by the Chirano Gold Mines Limited (CGML) for the Paboase community as part of its community development programme.

He said it was sad that education was not taken seriously by many parents and pupils in the area adding that the sanctions formed part of measures aimed at improving the educational fortunes of the youth in the area.

The Chief said high teenage pregnancy and teenage marriage; low educational and academic standards had led to many ending their education at the Junior High School Level.

Nana Frimpong Manso said absenteeism by both teachers and pupils had led to poor Basic Education Certificate Examination results and the inability of many of the pupils to further their education.

He appealed to the directorate of education to post more qualified teachers to the area while career guidance and counseling should be adopted by the teachers to assist pupils to re-focus their attention, study hard and take their education seriously.

Mr. Stephen W. K. Mensah, Community Relations Superintendent (CGML) handing over the school reminded the pupils that buildings did not make scholars but it was preparation and the desire to achieve that propelled students to succeed.

He appealed to the community, School Management Committee(SMC), Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) and the teachers to jointly work together to improve the results of their candidates.

Mr. Mensah said the Educational Assistance Programme (EAP) initiated by CGML in 2005, whereby teachers were paid allowances for undertaking extra classes, was aimed at improving the low levels of education in the area, creating access for many children and developing the human potential of the area.

He said it was sad that many teachers continually absented themselves from school thereby depriving pupils of the opportunity to improve themselves.

Mr. S. W. K. Afful, District Director of Education for Sefwi Wiawso cautioned the teachers and the community not to allow the school premises to be used for funerals and churches services.

He said the facility was aimed at transforming lives and everyone must play a role to get that vision materialize adding that the Ghana Education Service (GES) will do everything within its means to send qualified teachers to the school, saying however that such teachers need constant supervision and support from the community.**