The Ashanti Regional Secretariat of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) has held its stakeholders’ forum at the Assembly Hall of the Kumasi Anglican Senior High School (KASS).
The forum, organised on the theme: “Resetting the Operations of PTA, for schools in the Ashanti Region”, sought to gather enough data to help sensitise the Ghanaian parent to offer his/her maximum support to complement the efforts by the government to provide quality education to the Ghanaian child.
The target groups for the forum were mainly PTA Executives, Heads of Schools as well as interested parents.
Mr. Christopher Amankwah Yeboah, Regional Chairman, Conference of Heads of Basic Schools (COHBS), stressed that it was essential for both parents and teachers to come together to help various basic schools to realise their vision, as well as partnering Non-Governmental Organisation for the development of basic schools.
Touching on the challenges of school management, which hinders the progress of teaching and learning in the region, the Regional Chair mentioned infrastructure deficit, explaining that various basic schools have inadequate classrooms and desks, non-existent libraries, ICT laboratories and lack of toilets facilities.
He identified inadequate textbooks as a hindrance, explaining that due to the introduction of the new curriculum, 11 textbooks are required for teaching and learning, and mentioned that the region has only four ( English, Mathematics, Science, and Creative Arts and Design) out of 11 for only JHS 1 and 2.
The Regional Chairman of COHBS also indicated lack of recreational facilities to help students release stress, seen as a major challenge and stressed that school lands have been sold to investors for commercial purposes.
Mr. Yeboah also mentioned that teachers have no authority to punish students, hence their emerging lackadaisical attitude to correct deviant characters and unscrupulous behaviour of students.
He urged PTA Executives to partner and engage with their various communities and monitor teachers as well as help raise funds for the development of schools and teachers.
Chief Superintendent Frederick Hammond, Commander, Manhyia Police Division of the Ghana Police Service mentioned weak parental supervision and neglect, peer pressure, inadequate educational infrastructures and lack of counselling as some of the causes of indiscipline among school children.
He urged parents and guardians to be responsible, and have keen interest in their wards’ social and educational lives, noting that parents should frequent their wards’ schools, as well as monitor their (wards) various social media handles to ensure they (wards) don’t stray from the values instilled in them.
Nana Kofi Nti II, Otumfuo’s Chief Lindquist advised parents to prioritise their wards’ future over their respective careers, jobs and money, stressing that it is not the “sole responsibility” of teachers to instil discipline in the children.
He said parents must see it as a responsibility and should not hesitate to scold their wards when they go wayward and warned parents to desist from attacking teachers for disciplining their wards.
From Oswald P. Freiku, Kumasi
