Mrs. Irene Duncan-Adanusa, the General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), has appealed to parents to supplement government’s efforts at educating children of school-going age in the country.
'" Children in public basic schools do not pay fees but it is pertinent for parents to understand that their children in school need basic materials such as exercise books, pens, pencils and school uniforms”, she stressed.

Mrs. Duncan-Adanusa was speaking at a forum to mark the celebration of this year’s World Day against Child Labor in Accra on Thursday.
It was on the theme: “Quality public education, the right response to child labour” .It was organized by GNAT.
She said the day was used to draw attention of the public to the existence of child labor in all its forms and to highlight some of the efforts being made to eradicate them.

Mrs. Duncan-Adanusa said GNAT believes that children who received quality education are more empowered to come out of poverty.
“We strongly believe that the State must continue to provide quality public basic education and this must also be compulsory,” she added.
The Deputy Director of the Ablekuma South Sub-Metro, Kofi Asante, in his address noted that pupils are most catered for by their mothers and grandmothers who sometimes do not consider education as apriority.
He said teaching environment in various schools in the country is hostile as some school compounds have been turned into football parks and there is destruction of school structures and property.

The Head of the Occupational Health Unit of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Philip Amoo, who was the guest speaker, said there has been resurgence of international attention on child labor with growing public concern about the use of children’s time and energy, particularly in activities that might be injurious to their health, education and development.

He said there must be immediate prohibition of worst forms of child labor by enacting the appropriate laws.
Dr Amoo said child labor takes many different forms, adding the International Labor Organization Convention No.182 calls for immediate prohibition of the worst forms of child labour by enacting laws , regulations and standards.
Dr Amoo advised parents to do their best to educate their children to help reduce child labor in the country saying poverty should not be an excuse to deny the children education.