Features
Role of parents in education
In any country the education system cannot be successful if parents of the children in school do not play their part as expected of them. This is very true wherever we find ourselves in any part of the world.
A lot depends on the policy makers but policy makers alone will not be able to roll out successful policies in education. For such policies to succeed, we need to ensure that all hands are put on deck to help the system to succeed.
Without this it will be difficult for policy makers to succeed no matter their good intentions. One of the major players in the educational sector is parents. It is parents who give birth to children to go to school. Whatever the policy makers are able to come up with must, therefore, be embraced and supported by parents so that the educational programme can be implemented as expected. Without this it will be difficult for any educational system to succeed.
One role played by parents is the payment of fees as well as preparing or grooming the children to push them into schools at various levels. The various levels in this case are kindergarten or preschool, primary, secondary and tertiary levels.
PRE-SCHOOL LEVEL
At the pre-school level parents are expected to pay attention to the young children and get the necessary educational inputs to assist them to learn and be able to accommodate or assimilate what teachers teach them in the classroom. This explains why parents at this level must be prepared to purchase learning aids to help the children in the acquisition of knowledge.
At the primary school, similar assistance will be needed to groom their children into effective young scholars. Such a method continues at the secondary school level until the children get to the tertiary level. Support from parents at this time will, therefore, be very necessary since without such support teachers alone cannot deliver.
When children are supported by parents in this way, they grow up to become good scholars even at the young age and so as they get ready to enter the tertiary level it will be seen that a strong foundation has already been laid for such young scholars to make it possible for them to accumulate more sophisticated knowledge as they prepare to get to the tertiary level.
The tertiary level is a more complex area but if the children, young as they are, get the needed foundation they will be able to cope with the body of knowledge that they have to learn to enable them become complete scholars. If this is done it means that parents would have been able to contribute their portion as expected.
FREE EDUCATION
In Ghana today, the government of the day has come up with free education system at the secondary level. What this means is that parents are not expected to pay school fees for their children, whether at the vocational, technical or at the normal secondary school level. This is good and must be continued not only for the present generation but for our future generation as well.
There are many people who would have become educated if such a free education system had been introduced during their time. The present generation is, therefore, very fortunate to have come under a government that has introduced this free system of education. Poverty in Africa is generally high so African governments need to work efficiently to generate more money and introduce free education system to the people.
ADVANTAGES
The advantage of the free education system is that it reduces the burden of care on parents and enables them to free some of their resources to cater for other needs of members of their family. In addition, the free education system helps present and potential children to develop their talents and become very useful citizens in society. Again, it helps to reduce armed robbery and other social vices that would have occurred had there not been the free education system.
This explains why all over the world countries are praising Ghana for a good policy such as the free education system. The government is not just introducing free education system but encouraging students to also go in for vocational and/or technical education. The development of vocational and technical skills will help the young scholars to become self-employed instead of depending on government for employment.
SELF-EMPLOYMENT
This is important because masons, technicians, painters, designers and all kinds of artisans working in the public sector as well as in the private sector can become self-employed. This is the kind of lifestyle we need to encourage in this country. Many countries in the world have pursued this agenda and enjoying the benefits. There may be employment but the rate becomes reasonably lower compared with what would have been the case if such a system had not been put in place.
In all this, parents are still expected to play their role. They usually do this by encouraging their children to understand the policies in education and guide them to achieve their ambitions. Without such guidance and assistance from parents, it may be difficult for government alone to do this.
The success of the educational system in any country, therefore, does not depend only on government alone but parents as well. Indeed, other stakeholders such as scholarship organisations and churches and many others are all expected to play the role that are relevant to the educational policy. In addition, they are expected to dialogue with government on what can be done to improve the system.
GOOD INTENTIONS OF STAKEHOLDERS
What is to be done to improve the system can come from parents and other stakeholders but it must come from people with genuine and good intentions as stakeholders. If we embrace good government policies with our hearts and play the role expected of us, we will be able to achieve what is good for the country thereby bring improvement to every person. This is what all stakeholders must bear in mind as they offer any suggestions to policy makers to enable them have the peace to drive the development agenda as far as the educational sector is concerned.
Thus, the success of the educational sector is crucial for the development of the nation and this explains why all stakeholders must do all they can to support government to drive the country forward.
This is a task that we cannot run away from so each one of us, that is, the stakeholders, namely, government, teachers, students and, indeed, everybody should endear themselves to playing the role expected of them and helping to improve the system not only for the good of the country but also to the glory of God.
Contact email/whatsApp address of author:
Pradmat2013@gmail.com(0553318911)
By Dr Kofi Amponsah-Bediako
Features
Who knows tomorrow?
Recently a friend posted a sad news on his Facebook page, announcing the death of a school mate who had passed away, suddenly. The report had it that he was on his way to the airport to take a flight to Ghana.
I am sure this man had already informed the wife or a friend or a work colleague at work that he was returning home but he was not to return as a human being but as a dead body.
Such is life and so we need to be circumspect in how we go about things in life. The Bible reminds us that we are like grass which at one point in time looks elegant and the next moment becomes withered according to Psalm 90:5 and 6. It is for this reason that we need to guard our hearts with the word of God so that we shall be motivated to do the right thing, at all times.
This will enable us live on this planet, free from all sorts of troubles in our personal lives, even if we ignore the question of Heaven and Hell. Living a disciplined life delivers us from any kind of trouble as the Bible declares in Galatians 5:23 that against such there is no law.
The uncertainty surrounding our lives on earth is the more reason why people should commit their lives into the hands of the one who created it, in the first place unless you believe that the world created itself and that it appeared from nowhere.
Otherwise, the logical thing to do is to recognize the authority of the creator and surrender to his Lordship. Heaven is real and Hell is real, so for us who know the truth and have received Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, the onus lies on us to encourage our relations who have not believed and received Jesus into their lives, to do so.
We are a couple of days from another Easter Resurrection celebration and an opportunity to reflect on our lives in relation to the significance of Easter. In the Bible, the only occasion Jesus, Saviour of the world commands us to celebrate is his death and resurrection.
He never commanded his followers to celebrate his birth but like everything else, we chose to ignore Jesus’s instructions and decided to do what pleases us, just like our forefather and mother in the Garden of Eden.
Let us deliberately choose to do things differently as Christians this Easter, so we can really benefit from all the blessings that the celebration of the death and birth of Jesus, has on offer. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is definitely insanity.
I choose to be different this Easter and I am believing God for a newness of life so God’s glory would be revealed in me to draw the unsaved to him. It is only when people especially the unsaved, see the character of Christ in us, that they can be convinced about the authenticity of Jesus, as Saviour of the world, who can bring transformation in their lives too.
This is what would motivate them to surrender their lives to Jesus Christ. Let us make this Easter a memorable one that will be cherished for a long time. It is also a period for reconciliation and it would be great if in the spirit of Easter, we would try to reach out to those who have wronged us or have a grudge against us.
This would demonstrate that we have indeed accepted Jesus and that our religious posture is not a sham. May the good Lord grant us the grace to love our neighbours as ourselves, demonstrating the love of God in the process.
Those who have lost their loved ones and Easter brings sad memories, may the good Lord comfort and strengthen you. God bless.
.NB: ‘CHANGE KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KOFI BAAKO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT’
Features
Cosmetic deformities
COSMETIC deformities refer to physical imperfections or abnormalities that affect an individual’s appearance, often causing emotional distress and impacting their quality of life.
These deformities can be congenital, acquired, or result from various medical conditions or treatments. This article provides an in-depth exploration of cosmetic deformities, their types, causes, effects, and treatment options.
Types of cosmetic deformities
Cosmetic deformities can affect various parts of the body, including the face, skin, hair, nails, and teeth. Some common types of cosmetic deformities include:
1. Facial deformities: Congenital or acquired abnormalities affecting the shape, structure, or appearance of the face, such as cleft lip and palate, facial paralysis, or facial asymmetry.
2. Skin deformities: Conditions affecting the skin’s texture, tone, or appearance, such as acne, scars, birthmarks, or skin discoloration.
3. Hair deformities: Abnormalities affecting the hair’s growth, texture, or appearance, such as alopecia, hirsutism, or hair loss due to medical conditions or treatments.
4. Nail deformities: Conditions affecting the shape, size, or appearance of the nails, such as nail fungus, nail psoriasis, or nail trauma.
5. Dental deformities: Abnormalities affecting the shape, size, or appearance of the teeth, such as tooth decay, tooth loss, or malocclusion.
Causes of cosmetic deformities
Cosmetic deformities can result from various factors, including:
1. Genetics: Congenital conditions or inherited traits can cause cosmetic deformities.
2. Trauma: Injuries or accidents can result in cosmetic deformities, such as scars or facial trauma.
3. Medical conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as acne, psoriasis, or eczema, can cause cosmetic deformities.
4. Treatments and procedures: Medical treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgery, can result in cosmetic deformities.
5. Aging and environmental factors: Aging, sun exposure, and environmental factors can contribute to cosmetic deformities, such as wrinkles, fine lines, or age spots.
Effects of cosmetic deformities
Cosmetic deformities can have significant emotional and psychological effects on individuals, including:
1. Low self-esteem: Cosmetic deformities can lead to feelings of insecurity, self-consciousness, and low self-esteem.
2. Social anxiety: Individuals with cosmetic deformities may experience social anxiety, avoiding social interactions or feeling embarrassed in public.
3. Emotional distress: Cosmetic deformities can cause emotional distress, including depression, anxiety, or stress.
4. Impact on quality of life: Cosmetic deformities can affect an individual’s quality of life, impacting their relationships, career, or overall well-being.
Treatment options for cosmetic deformities
Various treatment options are available to address cosmetic deformities, including:
1. Surgical procedures: Surgical procedures, such as reconstructive surgery, cosmetic surgery, or dermatological surgery, can correct or improve cosmetic deformities.
2. Non-surgical treatments: Non-surgical treatments, such as laser therapy, chemical peels, or microdermabrasion, can address cosmetic concerns, such as skin texture, tone, or appearance.
3. Medical treatments: Medical treatments, such as topical creams, oral medications, or injectable treatments, can address cosmetic concerns, such as acne, hair loss, or nail deformities.
4. Prosthetic and orthotic devices: Prosthetic and orthotic devices, such as wigs, hairpieces, or dental prosthetics, can help individuals with cosmetic deformities.
5. Counselling and therapy: Counselling and therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or psychotherapy, can help individuals cope with the emotional and psychological effects of cosmetic deformities.
Conclusion
Cosmetic deformities can have significant emotional and psychological effects on individuals, impacting their quality of life and overall well-being.
Understanding the types, causes, and effects of cosmetic deformities is crucial in addressing these concerns.
Various treatment options are available, ranging from surgical procedures to non-surgical treatments, medical treatments, prosthetic and orthotic devices, and counselling and therapy.
By seeking professional help and support, individuals with cosmetic deformities can improve their appearance, boost their self-esteem, and enhance their overall quality of life.
Reference
1. “Cosmetic Deformities” by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons
