Minister calls on students to shun Mediocrity

Kumasi, Dec.10 GNA -Mr William Ofori-Boafo Deputy Minister of Defence has called on students to be obedient and shun mediocrity in their efforts to seek quality education and knowledge. He also called on them to guard against acts of vandalism and rioting but use the established channels of communication to seek redress to their grievances.

Mr Ofori-Boafo was speaking at the matriculation ceremony of 477 fresh students and the presentation of a Parent/Teacher Association (PTA) 200 million cedis 22-Seater Bus to Wesley College in Kumasi on Saturday.

The Deputy Minister exhorted the students to endeavour to lead upright lives and abstain from promiscuity to avoid contracting the Sexually Transmitted Diseases, especially HIV/AIDS, which is destroying the workforce of many countries.

He urged the new students to learn to live harmoniously and in humility under the new dispensation and strive to imbibe the good things imparted to them by their tutors.

Mr B. F. Anyan, Principal of the College said the College this year admitted 477 freshmen made up of 320 males and 157 females including a blind student.

He said if the College had made any breakthrough with education for the blind, it was by the invaluable support of the International Foundation for Education and Self-Help (IFESH) which for the past two years had been sending American volunteers to the College.

He said last year, the IFESH in collaboration with the World Cocoa Foundation and the Hershey Company donated digital equipment and a laminating machine worth 150.1 million cedis to the College. Mr Anyan said the IFESH through an American volunteer called Wendy Olson has, this year presented over 23,000 dollars worth of equipment for the blind and students with poor vision.

This, the Principal said, included 13 Parkins Braille writers, six copies of JAWS Speech output programme, six copies of MAGIC screen magnification programme, one closed circuit television, Romeo 40 Braille embosser, one copy of Duxberry Braille translation software, 13 APH recorders, eight Braille 91N Speaks with Disc drive as well as Braille paper and brail on.

Mr Anyan stressed the need for the government and other stakeholders to support the College with the provision of teachers' accommodation for at least 12 of its tutors out of the 28 who stays outside the College.

The Principal who commended the PTA for the Bus called for the construction of a new Assembly Hall for the College to meet the demand of the ever-increasing number of students entering the College every year.

Mr Alex Bempong-Boateng, the PTA chairmen said the facility was meant to enhance the teaching practice of the final year students and other administrative programmes. He said members contributed 400,000 each towards the purchase of the Bus and appealed to the College Authorities to take good care of the bus.

He said the PTA was, among other responsibilities, paying two security men, offering motivation to tutors and also beefing up security by supporting the fencing of the College, adding that it has planned to construct tutors bungalows.

The Rt.Rev. Ben Abubekr, Bishop of the Kumasi Dioceses of the Methodist Church commended the PTA for its efforts and urged it to do more to support the development of the college and education in general. Nana Agyen Frimpong II, Tafohene called on the students of the College to comport themselves both in and outside Campus and work hard to maintain the good image of the College.