Abuakwa parents discuss government's fee-free education programme

Abuakwa (Ash), Oct. 22, GNA - Mr Wilson Awuah-Dartey, an Assistant Director of Education at the Atwima-Nwabiagya District Education Directorate, has asked community stakeholders in education to reduce mistrust and suspicion among themselves to prevent conflicts. He also advised hostile persons in the communities to desist from attacking teachers who punish indisciplined pupils. Mr Awuah-Dartey, schedule officer in-charge of Quality and Access, was addressing a Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meeting at Abuakwa in Ashanti on Friday.

The meeting discussed the effective implementation of the government's capitation grant programme and the parent's contribution to ensure its success. Mr Awuah-Dartey said the community was a vital component in bringing about the needed qualitative change in the basic school system and must therefore promote peace and harmony to achieve the desired objective.

Mr John Wiafe-Akenten, headteacher of the local Catholic Primary School, advised the parents to sustain the cordial relationship that existed between them and the school to enhance quality teaching and learning.

Parents, he said, should show active interest in the school's activities and programmes and also demand regular updates on their children's academic performance for counselling and guidance. Mr Wiafe-Akenten urged the parents to maintain a congenial home environment that would promote discipline and moral virtues. The parents later agreed to mobilize resources to put up extra classrooms to end the shift system, which they admitted undermined effective teaching and learning.