Mrs Grace Adu Appiah, Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese (AAK) District Director of Education, on Tuesday expressed concern about the lackadaisical attitude of most parents at Moree, a fishing community in the district towards the education of their children.
She further bemoaned the high levels of child labour and teenage pregnancies at the area resulting in most children of school going age dropping out of school pointing out that the future of these children were in danger because without formal education they would be left behind.
This came to light when “Project Abroad,” an international Human Rights Organization, in collaboration with Alliance for Youth Development (AYD), a local NGO donated stationery including over 1,000 books, 1,800 pencils and 200 pens worth GH¢2,000 to the Moree Methodist, Moree Catholic and Moree D/A Junior High schools in the AAK District.
Mrs Adu Appiah regretted that despite the high population of children in the area, only a few have been enrolled and that most of them played truant because their parents had shirked their responsibility to cater for them, leaving them to fend for themselves.
The donation coincided with a Parent Teacher Association (PTA) meeting to deliberate on the welfare of pupils from the area.
Mrs Adu Appiah told the parents to ensure that they made provision for their wards and also monitor to ensure that they attended school regularly.
She reminded them that God will demand accountability from them concerning their children and urged them to work harder and not to leave them to their fate like “sheep without a shepherd”.
The District Director was full of appreciation to the two NGOs for their efforts in supporting the education of children from deprived communities and stressed that it was vital for national development.
Madam Betty Crassie, Headmistress of Moree Methodist Primary and J.H.S, and Reverend James Yawson, Superintendent Minister of Moree Methodist Church, also took turns to express their displeasure about the unconcerned attitude of some parents and children in the Moree Township towards education.
Madam Crassie disclosed that school enrolment was high during every first term of the academic year and dwindled in the subsequent terms because most parents sent their wards for fishing expeditions.
Rev. Yawson also noted that the number of children out of school far exceeded those enrolled adding that even though Moree was a deprived community parents should play their parts by caring for their children.
Mr Tom Davis, Country Director of Projects Abroad, re-echoed calls on parents to consider investing in their children’s education to secure their future and warned those engaged in child trafficking, child labour and child abuse to put an end to it.
Jenna Novak and Fleur Van Monsoon, Human Rights Volunteers for Project Abroad, said their organization was negotiating to get children in Moree schools on board the School Feeding Programme.
They added that an alternative education which would take the form of a training workshop for the children to be trained in various sporting activities would soon be introduced.
The children will also be taught topics on health issues and human rights to help curb the incidence of pre-marital sex which was high in the area.
Mr Sarfo Kantanka, Branch Manager of Mfantsiman Community Bank, advised parents on how to manage their finances and save towards the education of their children by avoiding frivolous expenditure on funerals, weddings and other social activities to the detriments of the education of children.
Later, the parents called on the government to abolish the school shift system in the township because many of their wards had taken advantage of the situation to loiter around and play truant during class hours with the pretence of being on either the morning or afternoon shift.