Nyankomase Ahenkro(C/R), March 22, GNA - The Assin South District Coordinating Director (DCD), Mr Thaddeus Zaasan, has commended private ba= sic schools in the country for withstanding the scare of the Capitation Grant= .. The DCD said many Ghanaians thought the private schools would collap= se when the Capitation Grant which made public basic schools fee-free was introduced, but through hard work and effective management, the private schools were even getting stronger. Mr Zaasan was addressing an open day of the God We Trust Preparatory=

School at Nyankomase Ahenkro in the Central Region.

He urged parents to take very good care of their children to secure a better future for them. The DCD advised management of public schools to learn from the priva= te schools to enhance efficiency in their schools. Nana Abena Gyamfoah II, Queenmother of Nyankomase Ahenkro, urged parents to take interest in their children's education by getting in touc= h with their teachers to know how they were faring in school and also by providing them with their needs. She urged pupils to make their books their companions and stop roami= ng the streets at night.

Nana Gyamfoah appealed to teachers who wanted to use their professio= n as a stepping stone to other professions to better resign now for their replacement to be sought as their half-hearted performance could endanger=

the education of the children.

Mr John B. Abaidoo-Abbam, retired hospital administrator and Chairma= n of the school's Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) advised parents to inves= t in the education of their children since that was the best legacy they co= uld bequeath to them.

"You must not be tired of buying them books, pens and other things t= hey need at school", he said.

He advised the pupils to take their destiny into their hands and to ensure that they secure a better place in future through hard work. Mr Abaidoo-Abbam cautioned the pupils against the habit of imitating others, which could endanger their future.

Mr. Bismark Opia-Mensah, Gomoa West District Director of the Nationa= l Service Scheme, who was the first senior prefect of the school, expressed=

concern about parents' attitude towards programmes of the schools of thei= r children. He pointed out that schools were not places where parents could go a= nd damp their children, stressing that regular interactions of parents and teachers helped in moulding the character of children. Master Richard Agyeman Duah, Senior Prefect of the School, in a repo= rt said the school won the Assin South District Quiz competition held at Ass= in Nsuaem/Kyekyewere.

He expressed concern about children's lateness to school and appealed to parents to help the school authorities to acquire a bus to curb lateness. Mr Kojo Gyasie Nimako, Proprietor of the School, said it was establis= hed by his mother, Madam Esther Amoh in 1992. He added that a 10-acre plot o= f land had been acquired to establish a Senior High School.