A traditional ruler has advocated the need to encourage parents to contribute to the education of their children despite the introduction of the Capitation Grant and other educational policies. Nana Asiedu Okoo Ababio, chief of Larteh, in the Akuapem North District, observed that some parents refused to buy books or pay levies imposed on their children in public schools, under the pretext that the Grant covered the entire cost of education. Nana Ababio made the call at a durbar of chiefs and people of Larteh to climax this year's Odwira festival, at the weekend. He said academic standards in basic schools had fallen and advised parents, individuals and organisations to contribute to the development of education in the area. He also urged the Government to ensure that all basic schools, particularly those in the rural areas, benefited from the School Feeding Programme. Nana Ababio expressed worry that some educational institutions were losing pupils to schools that were operating the programme. Mr. William Ofori Boafo, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akropong, pledged 2,500 Ghana cedis of his MP's common fund towards the building of nurses' quarters at Larteh and commended the chief for initiating the project. Nana Ohene Ntow, General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party, a citizen of Larteh, presented 25 computers to Nana Ababio for distribution to Benkum Secondary School and the Larteh Presbyterian Secondary Technical School and pledged to offer more support towards the development of the town. Mr. Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, the Eastern Regional Minister, advised the people to put petty squabbles behind them and unite for the development of Larteh. He donated 1,000 Ghana cedis towards the building of the nurses' quarters. Fund raising in aid of the project yielded 9,500 Ghana cedis. Source: GNA