A year-long programme to rekindle interest in formal education at Dodorkope, a village seven kilometers off Agbozume on the Accra-Aflao trunk road is underway.

The programme is the brain-child of Mr Philip Mensah, Headmaster of the Municipal Assembly (MA) Basic School Complex, the only school in the community.

Dubbed “Education-Key to Civilization and Development,” the programme is being organized under the auspices of the traditional authorities, the school’s Management Board, Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) as well as the Old Students Association.

At its launch at Dodorkope, Mr Mensah said the half-hearted attitude of parents towards their children’s education in the community pushed him to moot the idea.

“Fifty-two (52) years after the founding of the school, I find parents’ interest in the education of their wards irresolute, hence the idea to revamp that interest” he told the Ghana News Agency (GNA).

Mr Mensah, who had been at post for barely a year, said a diligent study of the history of the school indicated that it was an esteemed institution, with children from surrounding settlements trekking to school there, but somehow, its fortunes waned and enrollment dipped.

He said he believed after the programme, planned to be hyped in cities and big towns where many indigenes lived, attitude of parents towards their children’s education would become “programmed rather than mechanical.”

Mr Mensah said only four out of 13 candidates presented at the Basic Certificate Education Examination (BECE) in 2013 passed.

According to him, the school had benefited from a European Union supported three-unit classroom block, as well as a government sponsored six-unit classroom block with office, store, a laboratory and a water project.

He said the programme also sought to mobilize funding and sponsorship to fence the school, and provide it with computers, a canteen, cultural kits, brass band and sports equipment among others.

Mr Kofi Yevutse, founding teacher of the Dodorkope MA School Complex and a volunteer pupil- teacher, was decorated during the function for his pioneering role.

Mr John Tumaku, Lecturer in Entrepreneurial Skills at the General and Liberal Studies Department of the Ho Polytechnic, and an Old student pledged to organize a group to sponsor the education of two best performing pupils at the 2014 BECE, through senior high school.

He expressed worry at the attitude of parents towards their wards’ education and indiscipline among pupils and the youth in general.

Mr Albert Wedzi, Assembly Member of Dodorkope Electoral Area said he wondered why parents in the 1,700 populated community, would not strive to keep their wards through school, though the Dodorkope school was benefiting from the School Feeding Programme.

Mr Charles Agbagedi, a Retired Educationalist and a Guest of Honour observed that total education was a process that would not denigrate culture but rather transform it.

He said an educated person, besides being literate, must reflect decorum at all times.

Mr Michael Tsikudo, Focal Person for Special Education at the Ho Municipal Directorate of Education in a speech on Inclusive Education, said it was an offence for school authorities to refuse to enroll any prospective pupil, on account of his or her disability.

The programme would be climax with a grand durbar on Saturday November 8, this year.

GNA