The Ashanti Regional Director of Education, Mr Joseph Kwabena Onyinah, has expressed concern about the increasing media reports of the practice of occultism in schools. He noted that the negative effects of occultism manifested in the breakdown of discipline in schools with the attendant poor academic performance of students. Mr. Onyinah was addressing a meeting of chaplains of second-cycle educational institutions in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region. Convened by the Regional Directorate of Education, the meeting was aimed at forming an association of chaplains in second-cycle schools in the region to effectively collaborate with school guidance and counselling units to promote the spiritual and moral growth of students. The association would also adopt a common platform to champion the cause and welfare of the chaplains and also play advocacy roles in promoting religious values in students. Mr Onyinah said reports alleged that some students got involved in occultism through unapproved meetings in obscure places and that some innocent ones were lured into the practice unconsciously. He noted that the breakdown of the social fibre and activities of some false religious leaders were serious setbacks to building a disciplined, religious and morally upright youth. He said the practice of various forms of religion in schools and communities could mould the character and moral lives of students. Mr Onyinah therefore, reminded school authorities to take appropriate measures to stamp out the alleged occultism by strictly enforcing school rules and regulations. He called on the chaplains to promote sound spiritual and moral living amongst the youth to enhance national values for peace and development to prevail. Mr. Onyinah advised them to identify common and unique problems that affect the spiritual and moral lives in schools and develop effective means to address them. The Chaplain of the Kumasi Anglican Senior High School (SHS), Rev Father Oscar Christian Amoah, who is the co-ordinator of the association, was optimistic that the association would not only foster unity and understanding amongst themselves, but also come up with realistic measures to address some of the problems that attract the spiritual and moral growth of students. Source: Daily Graphic