Inculcate hard work, discipline in schoolchildren— President Akufo-Addo

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has underscored the need for school authorities and other stakeholders in education to inculcate the virtues of hard work and discipline in schoolchildren for them to become useful and valuable citizens in future.

“It is essential that key players in the educational sector, school authorities, teaching staff and students are all determined, disciplined and hardworking,” he said.

Speaking at the 59th Speech and Prize-giving Day of the Abuakwa State College (ABUSCO) in Kibi last Saturday, President Akufo-Addo said: “It is clear that the provision of quality, accessible education is the fastest and most effective way of changing the fortunes of our country and joining the group of developed nations.”

The event was on the theme: “Providing quality education through discipline and hard work for academic excellence.”

It climaxed activities marking the 80th anniversary of the school.

The college was founded 80 years ago through the visionary leadership of Nana Sir Ofori Atta I, the then Okyenhene.

President Akufo-Addo said Nana Sir Ofori Atta could not have established the school without hard work and discipline and charged the authorities of ABUSCO to focus on issues such as the supervision of teaching and learning, teacher and student absenteeism and the development of innovative and practical strategies to supervise and effectively monitor school activities.

“Authorities at ABUSCO have the obvious duty to uphold discipline. It is their responsibility and they must not hold back but be firm and reasonable in the process,” he added.

Teacher absenteeism

Additionally, the President said the commitment of teachers to the attainment of quality education at any level was critical, stating that teacher absenteeism was one of the factors responsible for the poor performance of students in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

He, therefore, urged heads of senior high schools to root out the canker of absenteeism, adding, “Our teachers must bear in mind that they are role models to students, they set the bar for excellence and must, therefore, project excellence to their students. Discipline and academic excellence go hand in hand and so our teachers should not compromise on the rules and regulations of the school.”

The President stated that the government recognised that a well-trained, confident and contented teacher was at the heart of the delivery of quality education.

Indiscipline

Focusing his attention on the students of ABUSCO, he urged them to be mindful of the fact that indiscipline undermined academic work and progress, while self-discipline and the effective use of their time were some of the key ingredients for their success.

The President assured ABUSCO and senior high schools across the country of his government’s determination to deliver quality education.

“We intend to ensure that the challenges of logistics and infrastructure associated with the introduction of the free SHS policy are satisfactorily addressed,” he said.

“The policy is here to stay. Education that will produce dedicated, disciplined and responsible students who will be eager and willing to participate in developing our beloved Ghana and become her patriotic future citizens and leaders remains our objective,” he added.