The President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, has advised parents not to force children to study specific courses but to encourage them to explore new areas of study that will help accelerate national development.
He indicated that new sectors of the economy such as oil and gas and Information Technology required manpower to fill vacancies but noted that not many had been able to take advantage of those vacancies because they were not trained in those new areas.
President Mahama was speaking at the 70th anniversary and Speech and Prize-giving Day of the Holy Child School in Cape Coast last Saturday.
“Let us give our young ones reasonable flexibility to make adjustments which respond to the increasingly competitive global and national world of work,” he stated.
“Let us through these demand-driven choices reduce unemployment,” he added, noting that there were several job opportunities for qualified professionals but not enough could be found.
He urged the students to work hard to achieve their aspirations.
To this end, President Mahama said 300 senior high school students received scholarships of GH¢2000 in 2015 to cater for their school fees and other educational needs to ensure underprivileged children also had the opportunity for sound education.
He said government would work to continue the implementation of the Mathematics, Science and Technology Scheme which had supported approximately 9000 students since it started in 2010 to ensure the development of more science, technical and vocation professionals.
The Headmistress of the School, Rev. Sis Josephine Anto, appealed for more accommodation facilities for teachers and another access road to the school.
The Patron of the School, Archbishop Mathias Nketsiah, said the success of the faith-based institutions argued for some autonomy and respect to keep them successful.
The Guest Speaker, Dr Maria Hagan, an Ophthalmologist advised the students to combine their studies with spirituality and high moral values.
Dr Pia Dogbe of the 1991 Year Group, who chaired the function, also urged the students to appreciate and make good use of the resources available to them and aspire to greater heights.
