I want to be an armed robber - 3-yr-old Ghanaian pupil tells govt official (PICTURED)

Saturday, September 20, 2014

THERE was utter shock and disbelief at Asuogyaman in the Eastern region of Ghana during the week when a three-year-old kindergatten pupil confidently told the District Chief Executive (DCE) and his delegation during ‘my first day at school,’ visit that he aspired to become an armed robber in future to enable him become rich.

The shocking answer was a response to a question the DCE, Thomas Ampem Nyarko, asked the children regarding what they aspired to become in future.

When asked if he understood what armed robbers do, the KG pupil remained silent for some minutes, forcing the DCE to issue a directive to the guidance and counselling unit of the Ghana Education Service to take the pupil through counselling and send their report to his office for further action.

The DCE stated that the assembly would make sure that the pupil gets the best of support needed throughout his education to ensure that he grows to become a responsible citizen.

The DCE and his entourage, made up of officers from the district education office led by the district education director, Mavis Yirenkyi, visited schools such as Akwamu West Anglican Primary, Akosombo Beasley, Akosombo VRA Roman Catholic School, VRA Presbyterian Primary School, Nuriya Islamic and Pupuni L/A Primary School.

Mr Nyarko encouraged the pupils, especially, the newly admitted KG pupils to take their studies serious by being punctual and learning hard. He told the pupils that the only way for them to be rich is through education, adding that there is no short cut to success; therefore, they must not joke with their education.

He emphasised government’s commitment to continuously invest heavily in education by making sure that facilities needed to enhance quality education are made available to them.

Later in an interview with a Ghanaian newspaper, the Daily Heritage, the DCE mentioned efforts being made by the government to address the poor performance record in the district, having been revealed through the assembly’s own research that 59 per cent of pupils in the district cannot read and write.

He explained that apart from the number of libraries being built in the district, reading exercise has been instituted in all basic schools in the district, while monitoring exercise has been revived to get the best results.

The newly posted district director of education, Mavis Yirenkyi, was not happy about the new admissions made; however, she expressed optimism that many more would be registered as the days go by. She called on parents and guardians to send all their children of school age to school since public basic schools are still free of charge.