The Oforikrom Municipal Assembly has welcomed pupils entering the mainstream school system as part of this year’s “My First Day at School” programme, with officials visiting various basic schools within the municipality on Wednesday, September 9, to encourage pupils to embrace education as a foundation for future development.

The visit, undertaken on behalf of the Oforikrom Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Anwel Sadat Ahmed, was led by the Deputy Director of the Assembly, Mr. Enoch Quaye, who was accompanied by officers of the Assembly and the Municipal Education Directorate. The delegation visited a number of basic schools within the municipality to interact with teachers and pupils and officially welcome children beginning their formal educational journey.

The Assembly officials presented school supplies to the newly enrolled pupils to support them in their academic activities. The children also received snacks during the visit, creating a lively and welcoming atmosphere as they began their first experiences in the formal school environment.

Mr. Quaye expressed satisfaction with the level of discipline observed among pupils and teachers at the schools visited, as well as the encouraging attendance recorded in the classrooms. He said the high level of attendance demonstrated the commitment of parents and guardians to their children’s education and urged the pupils to maintain the discipline exhibited and take their studies seriously.

He encouraged the pupils to make good use of the educational opportunities available to them, stressing that education remained an important pathway to personal advancement and national development. He urged them to listen to their teachers, attend school regularly and cultivate habits that would help them achieve their aspirations.

The Municipal Education Director, Madam Dorothy Opare Baidu, also commended the schools for the impressive enrollment recorded for the academic year. She noted that the number of pupils entering the schools was encouraging and called on parents to complement the efforts of teachers and education authorities by ensuring that their children attended school regularly.

She urged parents to treat their children’s education as a shared responsibility and work closely with teachers and school authorities to address challenges that could affect the pupils’ attendance and academic progress.

The exercise formed part of the Assembly’s efforts to support education within the municipality and promote early engagement with children, parents and schools. It also provided an opportunity for officials to observe conditions in the schools and interact directly with pupils at the beginning of their educational journey.