Yeji (BAR), June 29, GNA - Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, President of 31st December Women's Movement, has stressed the need to encourage boys t o go to school to bring a balance in the country's education. She said "if women constitute 50 per cent of the population, and men

constitute the other 50 per cent; we cannot exclude the participation of either gender. The inevitable negative results would definitely be a dras tic loss of necessary human capital". Nana Konadu made the call when inaugurating a Methodist Primary Scho ol block at Yeji, in the Atebubu District of Brong Ahafo Region. She called for gender parity to ensure balanced education between bo ys and girls adding "having done so much for girls, what do we do for boys w ho seem to be lagging behind?".

Nana Konadu said the effective utilisation of a country=B9s human resource requires that all groups have an equal opportunity, such as education to equip individuals with the necessary knowledge and skills". He called for a systematic conscientisation and education of the population particularly boys on their important roles in national development.

Nana Konadu said "We want the boys not to feel intimidated by the progress of girls, but to realise that there are opportunities that they also can benefit from. We want boys to develop themselves into a strong resource base capable of coping with difficulties and challenges of the modern world".

She appealed to leaderships of women's organisations, working with children and who had trumpeted girls' education programme to also focus o n boys' education. "We see them in our markets; on our streets; in the corners at night , looking visionless. It is our responsibility to refocus their minds on th eir education and their future," Nana Konadu said. Nana Konadu said: "We have reached a level in our development where it is obvious to all who care to see that many more boys are taking their schooling for granted". She called on children in the area to use the school as the basis to

change their attitudes, values and behavioural patterns that would help i n developing their potential to bring their focus onto the community and country. 29 June 10