He said they should develop policies and regulate in consonance with government educational policies, re-introduce and effectively monitor their local management systems to ensure effective teaching and learning and good management practices at all levels.

Mr Osafo-Maafo made these remarks in a speech read for him by his deputy, Mrs Agelina Baiden Amissah at the opening of the 31st Annual Conference of Managers of Educational Units (COMEU) at Cape Coast.

The five-day conference is on the theme: "Strengthening the educational partnership between the government and religious bodies," and is being attended by 90 participants from all over the country.

Mr. Osafo-Maafo also stressed the need to ensure that discipline and moral education are enforced in schools to help check moral decadence that has engulfed the society. He said the government would delegate "certain special factions" to the managers of Mission Schools and reserve other rights, since it would not be prudent to allow them full responsibility.

He said in order to strengthen and sustain the educational partnership, the way forward is for both the government and religious bodies to consciously and seriously commit themselves to their respective collaborative and collective roles in educational delivery, adding, "this will once and for all clear the confusion, misinterpretation and misrepresentation surrounding the issue of handing over.

The Deputy Central Regional Minister, Nana Ato Arthur, assured the participants that the government recognises the immense contribution that the Mission had made towards education development in the country and assured them of the needed support.

He further assured them that concerns raised on the educational reform programme would be addressed before its implementation.

"The National President of COMEU, Reverend Dr Richard Foli, said the educational units are indispensable and synonymous to quality education delivery and must therefore be maintained, improved and strengthened to facilitate discipline, high moral standard and academic excellence in the country.

He urged managers to ensure that the change of school uniforms is done gradually. Ms. Eunice Amba Amuah, the Deputy Regional Director of Education, who chaired the function, called for closer collaboration among traditional rulers, educational units and the government to help achieve greater excellence in educational delivery.