By Francis Kwabena Cofie, GNA
Akropong- Akuapem( E/R), May 01, GNA – Parents and teachers have been urged to support and nurture the talents of children discovered in their formative years to help them become useful assets to their families, society and the nation at large.
Considering this, schools have been urged to prioritise organising periodic competitions such as cultural festivals and display, talent shows and sporting festivals that unearth the potential and creativity in children.
Nana Asiedu Offei, the Presiding Member of the Akuapem North Municipal Assembly, and Managing Director of Solodom Group of Companies, gave the advice in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), on the sidelines of the Municipal Festival of Arts and Culture held for Basic School pupils, at the Special School for The Blind, Akropong- Akuapem in the Eastern Region.
It was organised by the Akuapem North Municipal Education Directorate and was on the theme: “Unleashing the Creativity in Kindergarten Learners Towards a Life-long Learning”.
The areas covered under the competition include painting, poetry, chorales and traditional dance.
The seven participating circuits in the competition were Akropong , Larteh, Mampong, Adors
o, Tinkong, Okurase and Mangoase.
All the circuits were winners in a certain category in a previous competition at the circuit level that justified their qualification to the municipal stage.
The rationale of the event was to unearth the creativity in the children towards a lifelong learning.
Describing the event as a talent hunt, Nana Offei mentioned that an event of that nature would promote creativity and exposure of the inherent talents of children and chart a course for a deserving place in the future world of work.
He encouraged stakeholders of the event to prioritise such programmes in the calendar year to tap into the budding talents of more of these young ones who remain potential future leaders in all human endeavors.
The Guest Speaker of the occasion, Ms. Abigail Osayohkodjie, the Eastern Regional Early Childhood Education Coordinator, urged parents and teachers to allow children to express themselves freely to a greater extent, to build confidence in them.
She urged parents to adopt a monitoring mechanism to help discover the hidden potential of their children and bring them to the limelight.
According to her, allowing children to ask questions and express themselves freely promotes creativity and critical thinking which makes them innovative in their everyday reasoning.
In a brief address, Mr. Lawrence Dzah, the Municipal Director of Education, said it is imperative for such programs to be organized periodically for our learners to highlight their inborn talents in the creative arts.
He therefore urged participants to see the event largely as a learning curve for children and not merely a competition to win awards.
He described painting as vital for children’s holistic development as it promotes creativity and brings about emotional expression and cognitive growth.
Mr. Dzah explained that it also introduces early learning concepts such as color recognition and spatial awareness.
Furthermore, he said, it also strengthens fine motor skills, improves hand-eye coordination and enhances focus in most activities.
On his part, Mrs. Patricia Nyanpong, the Municipal Early Childhood Education Coordinator, in a welcome address, said through the event communication skills, curiosity, confidence, critical thinking among others, are being created in the development of learners.
She urged parents to give children the freedom to follow their passion to create career opportunities for them in the course of life.
The schools that participated were given certificates of honor at the end of the event.
GNA
Edited by Benjamin Mensah