A United States-based Ghanaian retired mathematics teacher and philanthropist, Samuel Quansah Quarcoo, has cautioned students against the irresponsible use of social media, warning that excessive engagement with digital platforms could undermine their academic focus and negatively affect their social well being.
He made the call when he donated teaching and learning materials to Lashibi Community Senior High School in the Greater Accra Region as part of his continued efforts to support education in Ghana.
Mr Quarcoo said although technology was important for education and communication, its misuse among young people was increasingly exposing them to cyberbullying, online shaming and other behaviours that could affect their confidence and concentration.
He urged students to exercise self-control and use technology wisely, particularly during the vacation period.
“Technology is good, but there are certain side effects of technology that, if the kids are not very careful, will impact on their social well being. Sometimes you have these kids who are actually shaming each other on social media. They look at you and say, ‘You don’t look as good as this particular person.’ The kids are losing their self-control and they are losing focus of the reason why they are in school. Instead of focusing on school, they are focusing on themselves, and that is the bad effect of social media. So we try to discourage them from misusing it and encourage them to use technology wisely” He said.
The donation forms part of the second phase of Mr Quarcoo’s educational support programme this year, following an earlier intervention that benefited basic schools in Accra.
The items presented to Lashibi Community SHS included exercise books, notebooks, attendance registers, assessment sheets, mathematical sets, pens, pencils, A4 sheets and other educational materials aimed at supporting teachers and students.
Mr Quarcoo said his philanthropic activities would also extend beyond schools, with plans to visit an orphanage in the Central Region to support children as they prepare for the vacation.
He said the gesture was intended to reward the children for their efforts during the academic year while encouraging them to stay out of trouble and return to school prepared for the next academic year.
Receiving the donation on behalf of the school, the Assistant Headmistress in charge of Academics, Rabiatu Asimiru, expressed appreciation to Mr Quarcoo for his continued support.
She said the philanthropist, who had previously supported the school, had returned with materials that would ease some of the financial burden on the institution, particularly at a time when teachers were preparing for examinations.
Madam Asimiru, however, appealed to philanthropists, old students and other stakeholders to support the school with the construction of a proper perimeter wall.
She explained that the absence of a complete wall was creating security and management challenges, including allowing stray animals to enter the school compound.
“The most important and big thing we need is the school wall. If we have the school wall, I think we will get a lot of outcomes in our education. Though it is a guess, if we have the school wall, while we are managing the students and the input we are putting in, we will get a lot of results, academic results, serious ones. So what we need urgent attention is a wall. If we can get a philanthropist to come and help us, this will be very important” she stated
The retired teacher’s continued interventions form part of his broader effort to give back to Ghana and contribute to improving the teaching and learning environment in schools.
By Bawa Musah
