Private schools advised to stop enticing other pupils to their schools

Nkawie (Ash), March 17, GNA - Mr Eddy Obeng-Darko, Atwima District Director of Education, has expressed concern about reported practices of some private school managements who subtly induce and entice pupils from other schools to enrol in their institutions.

He said this unhealthy practices aimed at increasing enrolment with the view to maximise financial returns was creating tension and conflict in the district and advised those involved to stop forthwith. Mr Obeng-Darko was addressing a durbar of pupils, teachers and proprietors of private schools in the Atwima district at Nkawie on Tuesday as part of activities marking the Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) annual celebrations.

"The advertisement to improve enrolment of the school is through the strict enforcement of moral and academic discipline", he said. He announced that out of the 85 known private schools in the district, only 26 were properly registered and provided with certificates and urged the others to emulate them. Mr Obeng-Darko observed that many private schools in the district have inadequate infrastructure with poor environment, which was not conducive for effective teaching and learning and asked the schools to improve upon them.

The Director of Education stressed the need for private schools to establish and attach pre-schools to the mainstream education in line with the government's new education policy.

Mr Thomas Frimpong, Atwima District GNAPS Chairman, condemned the rampant physical attacks on teachers by some parents whose children are disciplined for wrong doings.

Mr Frimpong, who is the proprietor of Atwima-Achiase Supreme International School, advised his colleagues not only to be concerned with the academic performance but also instil discipline and moral values in the children.

He announced that in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service (GES), the association has drawn up a programme to inspect the premises of the various private schools to ensure that they met the requirements of the government guidelines and policies.