Mr James Zugah Tigah, Upper East Regional Minister, has called on parents to take special interest in the education of their children to ensure that they receive a solid foundation in formal education as gateway to their academic pursuits.

Mr Tigah said parents play an important role in the educational development of their children and therefore had to show interest in their academic performance and progress.

The Regional Minister made the call when he toured some schools in the Bolgatanga Municipality to welcome pupils of kindergarten and primary one on “my first day in school” at the Kumbosco Primary and Tahiriah Islamic School at Sawaba, in the municipality.

Addressing parents, Mr Tigah urged them to cut down on expensive and luxurious life styles and rather pay the needed attention to their children in school.

He noted that though government had instituted interventions such as the school feeding programme, free JHS and distribution of free school uniforms and teaching and learning materials to pupils to ensure their retention in school, parents’ role in supplementing the needs of their wards is vital in retaining them in school.

Emphasising on girl- child education, the Minister encouraged mothers to support their wards to go to school.

The Minister presented bags containing pencils, eraser, sharpener and crayons to about 37 pupils at Kumbosco Primary.

Mrs Janet Kawiah, Acting Regional Director of Education, who went round with the Minister charged teachers to endeavour to make learning in school interesting to sustain the interest of pupils and to help lay concrete foundation for them.

Mrs Kawiah said school heads as front liners should avoid favoritism that deters them to correct teachers when they misconduct themselves.

She urged teachers to prepare lesson notes timely and improve on contact hours for the pupils in order to improve on teaching and learning.

The Acting Regional Director of Education also called on the School Management Committee Mr Mokase Mokasson, Municipal Director of education warned that teacher absenteeism, poor and late preparation of lesson notes would not be tolerated and teachers who do not comply would have their salaries blocked.