Abesim (B/A), Sept. 17, GNA - Two hundred school children got enrolled in various schools in the Sunyani Municipality on Tuesday as part of activities marking "My First Day At School". Mr Fosu Gyeabour, Municipal Director of Education, who disclosed this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday said to commemorate the day officials of the Municipal Directorate toured some schools at Abesim and Odumase to welcome and interact with first-comers at the kindergarten.

The schools included Methodist, Presbyterian Primary A and B, Seventh Day Adventist and Roman Catholic Schools at Abesim and Odumase, district capital of Sunyani West. The ceremony in both towns was attended by traditional rulers, education officers, Assembly members and opinion leaders. Mr Gyeabour said parents who accompanied their children to school expressed appreciation for the introduction of the concept. He said the children were themselves very excited as they were supplied with "my first day at school" souvenirs including caps and biscuits. He described the attendance as very encouraging and expressed optimism that the concept would be sustained to motivate more children to be enrolled in schools.

Mr Kwame Twumasi-Awuah, Municipal Chief Executive, advised the pupils to take their lessons seriously and make time for their books instead of using all their time to watch television and engaging in unproductive activities. Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, appealed to the teachers to be patient with the children since they were in a new environment. A brass band provided music during the tour to create awareness about the essence of the programme to get more parents to send their children to school.