The Central Regional Deputy Education Director, Madam Harriet Idun Sagoe, has charged parents to recognise and take seriously their role in the education of their children.

“Taking your child to school and do all you can to help their education is also part of your responsibilities,” she said.

She noted education gives a child knowledge, which eventually leads to their progress and prosperity.

She testified she had greatly benefited from education “else I would not be here addressing you at Jukwa on this occasion”.

Madam Harriet Idun Sagoe spoke at the 94th Speech & Prize Giving Day of Jukwa Methodist Basic School in the Hemang Lower Denkyira District of the Central Region, themed: ‘Celebrating 94 years of Quality Education: Role of Stakeholders’.

Quality education, she asserted, could only be achieved when various stakeholders played their respective roles efficiently.

Thus, she admonished parents who erroneously thought in view of the government’s Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy, they no longer had any responsibility of care towards their children.

“Some go to school without basic stuff such as underwear. You take your child to school and do not even bother to visit them to check on them. We urge you to discharge your responsibilities to ensure your children’s development and prosperity for your own benefit,” she said.

Turning her attention to the “pupils and students” present, she charged them to learn hard, avoid aimless roaming and the abuse of social media.

To become “learned and great,” she asked the students and pupils to “sleep when you’re told to, don’t spend all your time watching TV, make books your friends”.

“Learn and progress,” she emphasised.  

Furthermore, Madam Harriet Idun Sagoe appealed to the adults of the Jukwa community not to look on unconcerned when they saw children misconducting themselves. She asserted this was the sacred responsibility of adults, even when they were not biologically connected to a young person.

“If you don’t admonish wayward children, they may grow up into incorrigible people who will harm you,” she cautioned.

She encouraged members of the Jukwa community to take the education of children seriously. Buttressing, she reminded her audience of one Patricia whose poem had earlier noted once schoolchildren had received quality education, and prospered, Jukwa would, also, benefit.

“If we don’t take care of our children, they will not be able to take care of us and make us proud,” she stressed.

Madam Harriet Idun Sagoe, also, recognised the community “giving us land for the school,” thanking them for “all you do to foster education”.

“Continue in the increase of you support so our schools will progress and cause the development of Jukwa,” she rallied.

The colourful ceremony was witnessed by the Hemang Lower Denkyira Education Director, Madam Lucy Nkansah; Vice Presidential Candidate for the Movement of Change (M4C), Elijah Kwame Owusu Danso ESQ; National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Candidate Seth Agyapong Mensah ESQ; the teaching body of the school and parents of students.