The Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. Osei Assibey Antwi, has called on teachers and parents to interact frequently on the performance and conduct of children to enable them improve on their capabilities. He said teachers complement efforts of parents by inculcating in children good moral values and academic excellence that would enable them become useful and productive citizens. Mr. Antwi made the call when addressing the 16th Anniversary and Third Speech and Prize-Giving Day of Kumasi Secondary Technical School at Patasi in Kumasi on Saturday. It was under the theme, "Secondary/Technical Education in the 21st Century in Ghana - Perception of the Society." The school's Military Cadet Corps was also inaugurated. He said Government's development agenda had a focus in the training and development of the youth to contribute to national development. Mr. Antwi said students were expected to live up to their responsibilities to their parents, teachers and commit themselves to hard work. "If you study hard and pay attention both at home and in school, you would definitely excel," he said. He said drug abuse could destroy their career and appealed to school authorities, parents and the public to collaborate to curb the menace in schools and society. Mr E.A. Mensah, Headmaster of the School, said student population was 1,634 and their academic performance had improved. He said during the July/August 2005 Senior Secondary School Examination, 87 out of the 346 candidates registered for the examination, passed in eight subjects, 147 passed in seven subjects and 74 passed in six subjects, representing 89 per cent of students who passed in six-eight subjects. "In the 2006 May/June maiden West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) the school presented 444 candidates, 415 passed in eight subjects, 32 passed in seven subjects and three in six subjects. This represented 99 per cent of the passes in eight-six subjects," he added. He commended Government and other stakeholders especially Dr. Richard Winfred Anane, Member of Parliament for Nhyieso for presenting Home Economics appliances worth ¢70 million to the school. Mr. Mensah appealed to Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND) to assist the school to complete the construction of an 18-unit classroom being undertaken jointly by the Parent/Teacher Association and the school authorities. He appealed to the administrator of the Fund for a bus and provision of sports equipment to the school. Nana Prah Agyensaim VI, Paramount Chief of Assin Kushea in the Owirenkyi Traditional Area in the Central region called on managers and students of technical institutions to project themselves as important professionals. He said these could be done through honesty, professionalism of approach to work, consistent and fair charges to the satisfaction of their customers and open demonstration of skills. Nana Agyensaim stressed the need for Government and stakeholders in technical education to endeavour to develop such institutions since the progress and development of a nation depended on its industrialization without which a handsome economy would remain a dream. Source: GNA