Parents call for a review of policy on promotion in schools

Akropong(Ash), Feb. 15, GNA - Parents at Akropong-Ashanti in the Atwima-Nwabiagya District have called for a review of the policy on promotion in schools in the country. They contended that 'wholesale promotion' of pupils in schools had contributed to the poor performance at the Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE).

The parents in addition, advocated for the re-introduction of corporal punishment in basic schools to instil discipline and moral values among the pupils.

They made the call at a School Performance Appraisal Meeting (SPAM), organized by the Atwima-Nwabiagya District Education Planning Team (DEPT) at Akropong-Ashanti on Tuesday.

Stakeholders in education including chiefs, teachers, parents, school Management Committees (SMC's), religious leaders and other opinion leaders attended the meeting.

The parents expressed concern about a report from the head-teacher of Roman Catholic Junior Secondary School (JSS) that only 40 out of the 70 candidates registered to sit for this year's BECE attended classes. They had therefore, asked the school authorities not to allow those candidates who failed to attend classes to sit for the examinations to serve as deterrent to recalcitrant and truant pupils in the area. Mr. Baffour Asare-Bediako, an Assistant Director of Education at the directorate, said provision of quality education had assumed global dimension and appealed to parents to encourage their children to attend school.

Teachers, he said could provide the needed quality education to the children when parents actively monitor and supervise their children to study at home.

Mr. Asare-Bediako said some parents had failed to provide the basic needs of their children to attend school and had led them to indulge in such social vices as pilfering, sexual promiscuity, drug addiction, gambling and undertaking menial jobs for a living. Baffuor Awuah Sarkodie II, Gyasehene of Akropong-Ashanti said the SPAM, had assisted the community to identify problems that affected education and pledged to collaborate with established education structures to solve them.