The Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K. T. Oduro has called on parents, teachers and educators to strive to be good role models in the use of social media.

He noted that these three stakeholders of education have the responsibility to ensure that the youth make the right choices. “As parents, teachers and educators, we need to encourage our youth to express their views on the use of social media by engaging them in one-on-one talks. We must be prepared to listen and offer corrections and suggestions in an affable manner”, he stressed.

Prof. Oduro made this call when he delivered an address as the Special Guest Speaker during the 16th Speech and Prize-Giving Day of the University Junior High School (UJHS) and Launch of the 30th Anniversary. The ceremony was on the theme “The Emergence of Social Media and Its Implication for Discipline”.

Prof. Oduro indicated that to effectively direct and guide children, teenagers and the youth to do the right thing, stakeholders must upgrade their knowledge on social media applications, sites and generally, the use of the internet. He also advised against the use of traditional methods of discipline involving physical punishment for breaking rules and disturbing order to more dialogue, adding that “We need to take a call on media discipline that will work for our society and let us not make social media a scapegoat”.

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor noted that through social media has contributed positively to the technological advancement of society, its impact could equally be very dangerous, especially on the youth. He said social media sites help to promote creativity, interaction and sharing of knowledge among users but cautioned that teenagers could be exposed to immoral lifestyles. He pointed out that “Social media can also be likened to fire, which is a very good servant but can become a very bad master if you allow it”.

Delivering a report on the School, the Headmistress, Mrs. Kate Frimpong said the UCC JHS has over the years made remarkable strides in terms of academic and extracurricular activities. She noted that the School has always been on the top of the Basic Education Certificate Examinations (B.E.C.E) in the Central Region. She pointed out that a pupil from the school, Master Oduro Kofi-Quakyi received the 2016 President’s Independence Award for being the best pupil in the BECE.

Mrs. Frimpong said the school management has established an endowment fund to construct a three-storey building complex for the School in the next three years. She, therefore, appealed to old students, organisations and philanthropists to contribute towards making this vision a reality.  She expressed gratitude to Prof. Oduro and his family for contributing GH¢ 1,000 to the fund.

The Chairman for the function, Mr. Jeff Teye Onyame who is the Director of Academic Affairs praised UJHS for its outstanding achievements adding that “We are all witnesses to the high-quality academic standards of the school”. He used the opportunity to advise the pupils to concentrate on their education and cautioned them not to be distracted by social media due to its addictive nature.

Some past students of the UJHS presented educational items and plaques to the School at the function. The Chairman of the Parent Teacher Association of UJHS, Dr. Michael Boakye-Yiadom also raised funds and officially launched the 30th Anniversary of the School.

Featuring at the function were rich cultural performances, poetry recitals and cadet display.