Schoolchildren in Plan Ghana-assisted communities in the Awutu-Effutu-Senya District of the Central Region, have appealed to parents to embrace the family planning concept.
By this way they would be able to produce the right number of children they could conveniently cater for, with less financial constraints.
It would also help parents to provide vital educational needs like, uniforms, books, footwear and pay the fees of their wards in good time to sustain their interest in education for better results.
These were contained in a 10-point resolution submitted to the Awutu-Bawjiase Programme Area Manager of Plan Ghana (PG), Mrs Amelia Allan, at a biennial review meeting of development partners of Plan Ghana from Awutu-Effutu-Senya, Ga West, Agona, and Gomoa districts of the Central and Greater Accra regions at Awutu-Bawjiase on Wednesday.
The appraisal meeting afforded participants including chiefs, opinion leaders, assembly members, Community Based Development Committee representatives and school children, the chance to critically analysis the performance of both beneficiary communities and the organization itself.
Plan Ghana and leaders of planning and implementation groups in various beneficiary communities who participated, wholeheartedly accepted their shortcomings during the period under review and promised to make amends to enhance progress in the ensuing year.
The children attributed the inability of parents to provide their school going children with such basic requirements such as school uniforms, books and foot wears to the large number of children they produced.
They made it clear to parents that if they offered their children in basic and secondary schools good uniforms, shoes, books and important learning materials and co-operated with teachers, they could count on their wards for excellent performance in their academic, technical and vocational pursuits.
Parents were further urged not to engage their children in business, farming and trading during market days because such acts could have adverse effects on the education of the children.
Reacting to the children’s request, Mrs Allan and Ms Helena Arkoh, Awutu-Effutu-Senya District Director of Education, expressed concern about parents who took delight in the acquisition of personal effects and expensive funeral celebrations to the detriment of their children's education.
The two charged parents in rural communities to re-examine their attitude towards the education of their children to enable them to build a better future for their wards as it would also serve as security for their old age.