National Education Campaign Coalition calls for infusing of trades into

JSS

Mankessim, (C/R) Dec. 26, GNA - Participants at a seminar at Mankessim have suggested infusing of acquisition of trades into the Junior secondary school concept as means of promoting technical education in the country.

The participants were of the view that if acquisition of trades was incorporated into the JSS concept it would go a long way to reduce the unemployment problem facing the country.

The seminar was organised by the National Education Campaign Coalition (NEC) non-governmental Organisation (NGO) to find solution to the high school dropout rate in the country. The participants appealed to education authorities to make the school timetable flexible to meet the needs of certain pupils and students who found themselves in a peculiar situation. For example, they said if classes were shifted to the afternoon for schools in market centres and the fishing communities during the bumper season, it would help students who fend for themselves to combine their studies with manual work.

The participants appealed to school authorities to make their environments attractive and friendly to enable them to retain pupils. Prof. Joseph Kingsley Aboagye, Director, Institute of Education, University of Cape Coast and chairman of the Central Regional Chapter of the Coalition said the high rate of school drop-outs did not augur well for the nation's future development and appealed to parents and teachers to help the children to stay in school.

Miss Harriet Walden, the Regional coordinator said the coalition was not an enemy to the government, its duty was to bring to the notice of school authorities some problems facing the educational system and at times help the authorities to solve them.

In a welcoming address, Miss Vivian Etroo, Mfantseman District Director of Education appealed to all stakeholders to help make the huge investment government was making on education worthwhile.