Discipline is a tool for quality education - Kufuor

Bompata (Ash), April 12, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor has said discipline was not only an ingredient in nation building but also a tool for quality education.

He urged teachers to lead the crusade against indiscipline so as to ensure "quality materials" capable of taking over the governance of the nation in future.

President Kufuor said the upsurge of indiscipline in the society was a threat to national development and asked stakeholders to complement government's efforts to clamp down on this canker. This was contained in a speech read on his behalf by Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, the Ashanti Regional Minister, at the 40th anniversary celebration of the Bompata Presbyterian Secondary School in the Asante-Akim South District at the weekend.

He said there was the need to curb indiscipline in schools by urging authorities in second-cycle institutions to place premium on instilling discipline in students.

President Kufuor said for the government to succeed in promoting quality education there was the need for parents and teachers to be actively involved in the sensitisation of students on the need to be disciplined.

The President directed the Asante-Akim South District Assembly to donate 20 million cedis to the school as government's contribution towards the anniversary celebration.

Right Reverend Dr Yaw Frimpong-Manso, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, appealed to the government to intensify efforts at providing quality education by implementing curriculum principles recommended by the report of the Presidential Commission on the Review of Educational Reform.

He said quality education required collective responsibility and co-ordinated efforts from all stakeholders and added that it was about time the country reduced over reliance on foreign donors for support. The Moderator said reliance of foreign donors and voluntary organizations could only serve as a short-term measure in addressing problems of schools and that traditional stakeholders in education held the key to sustainable solution to such problems.

Mr Samuel Agyepong, Headmaster of the School, said after 40 years of existence, the school was still struggling to survive despite producing credible men and women serving the country in various capacities and described the situation as unfortunate.

"Also disheartening is the fact that the school is gradually being forgotten even by the very people who have benefited from it". Mr Agyepong said the school lost about 20 computers early last year when a rainstorm hit Bompata, rendering the computer laboratory ineffective and appealed to the government to come to the school's aid.