The New Juaben Municipal Assembly says it will soon start arresting parents who refuse to enrol their children in school. 

This has become necessary because of the rising number of children seen loitering in the neighbourhoods whilst schools are in session.

This was disclosed during a stake holders’ meeting organized by the Municipal Assembly in Koforidua, to brief its stakeholders about the assembly’s 2014-2017 Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP).

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Dr Kweku Owusu Acheampong, said improving educational standards in the municipality in the MTDP would be key on the assembly’s developmental agenda and in this regard, no detractors would be tolerated.

“Parents who refuse to send their children to school when they are of age will be arrested and prosecuted,” he said.

Dr Acheampong also expressed disgust about unknown individuals who turn classrooms of basic schools in the municipality into brothels and toilets.

He said as part of the MTDP, the Assembly would soon employ security guards for all the basic schools in the municipality.

The MCE said to improve upon the Basic Education Certification Examinations (BECE) performance of schools in the area, the Assembly in collaboration with the Municipal Education office would from next academic year, begin a municipal mock examinations for the Junior High Schools to prepare them adequately for the BECE.

He said three Information Communication and Technology (ICT) centres, five Science resource centres and four teachers’ quarters would be built to improve the study of ICT, science and mathematics, adding that, a total of 17 classroom blocks would also be built.

Dr Acheampong said the municipality would construct two additional Senior High Schools, and that, 120 needy but brilliant students will be sponsored as part of the medium term plan.