Mr. Daniel Amponsah Brenya, the Headmaster of Bestina Education Centre in Kasoa Amanfro, has raised a pressing concern about the growing trend of teenage girls asking permission to visit their parents but instead sneaking off to see their boyfriends.To him, this behavior poses a significant risk to the well-being and safety of these young girls.
In a bid to address this issue, Mr. Brenya proposed a collaborative approach between teachers and parents. He emphasized the need for teachers to take their monitoring role seriously, particularly when it comes to students’ movements and activities outside of school.
Speaking to Oyerepa news reporter Bernard K Dadzie, Mr. Brenya stressed the importance of parents establishing a strong, trusting relationship with their children before they start school. By doing so, parents can set clear rules and expectations for their children’s behavior, making it more likely that they will obey them.
“Parents should demonstrate trustworthy behavior, so when they tell the kids something, they will know that it’s a rule from home,” Mr. Brenya explained. “When you go out, obey rules, obey regulations, don’t do this, don’t do that. It’s likely they are not going to involve themselves in such behavior.”
The Headmaster also emphasized the need for teachers to verify the reasons for students’ absences and inform parents accordingly. “Before you give an excuse to a student, you can also find out, call the parent,” he advised. “This child is coming home, it’s starting from this time, so be aware, or the parents will also advise.”
By working together, teachers and parents can help prevent children from engaging in undesirable behavior and ensure their safety and well-being.
He noted that sometimes students may claim to be visiting their parents, but in reality, they are visiting their boyfriends. In such cases, teachers should be vigilant and inform parents accordingly.
Mr. Brenya also highlighted the importance of parents spending quality time with their children and building strong relationships with them. “Some parents go to work and see their child only one day within a week,” he noted. “That thing is not helping. So we should make time for the child, demonstrate good intentions, and show them that we value them.”
By doing so, parents can help their children develop good values and behaviors, making them less likely to engage in risky behavior. He emphasized that when children feel valued and loved, they are more likely to make positive choices and behave responsibly.
Source: Bernard K Dadzie; Greater Accra Region
