Excessive Spending On Children Corrupt Them -Educationist

An educationist has admonished parents not to overspend on their children but to teach them modest living as that is the surest way to help bring up incorruptible citizens. Mrs Mariam Otoo, Proprietors, Hope Marie Academy located at Sowutuom-Auntie Aku in the Anyaa/Sowutuom Constituency in Accra, asked parents to desist from �buying so many things as snacks for even their pre-school children�. She said providing moderate things for children would enable them grow to become modest. Speaking at the 18th thanksgiving and graduation ceremony of the schools kindergarten two pupils in Accra, Mrs Otoo urged parents to become �real partners� in helping provide quality education for their children to enable them become useful citizens in the future. The �hearts of children are like fertile grounds which need to be watered well by especially parents for it to yield the best results�. She said parents ought to take critical part in the training of their children rather than entrusting them solely to teachers and at Sunday schools thinking that was enough. She said it would always be advisable for parents to befriend their children, especially the girl-child and spend quality time with them particularly, at weekends so they would interact and know what their needs are. The graduation which was on the theme: �Education, a Tool for Social Change� saw 46 pupils made up of 24 girls and 22 boys graduating from the pre-school to the school�s primary section. They were awarded with certificates. Various activities involving the entire school from the pre-school section to the Junior High School undertaken to mark the graduation ceremony included health walk and float as well as health screening exercises for the pupils, parents and members of the Auntie-Aku community. The Proprietress who led the graduating pupils to offer thanksgiving to God Almighty for his protection at the Glory House Chapel at Santa Marie, advised parents to depend on God in nurturing their children to bring out the best in them. She asked parents to set good examples for their children as they tend to copy and imitate a lot from them. Madam Victoria Darko, Headmistress of the School, said the Academy established in 1995 with 10 pupils now has a population of 717 and continues to sour in greatness with 100 per cent distinctions in the Basic Education Certificate Examination results each academic year. She said parents should see the investment they make in their children�s education as a social security that would be earned in the future. She said the school pupils as part of the graduation, were also taken on a �professional trip� to various institutions like the 37 Military hospital, Pepsi Cola offices and TV3 as a way of mentorship to inspire them for their future careers.