By Christiana Afua Nyarko, GNA
Accra, Dec. 14, GNA – Mr Saviour Yao Zikpi, Headmaster of Atomic Hills Basic One and Two Schools, has appealed for urgent infrastructural support to address challenges arising from over-enrolment, sanitation constraints and limited access to sports facilities.
He made the appeal during the school’s 30th anniversary durbar held on Saturday at the school’s premises in Accra, on the theme: “Three Decades of Excellence: Empowering Young Minds, Enriching Lives.”
Mr Zikpi said the school’s growing popularity and strong academic performance had overstretched existing facilities, making expansion necessary to sustain quality education delivery.
He disclosed that total enrolment stood at 2,830 pupils, comprising 1,412 boys and 1,418 girls, supported by 71 teachers, national service personnel and teaching practice students.
“The school’s popularity and performance have resulted in huge enrolment, increasing teacher workload and affecting classroom management,” he said, and appealed to stakeholders to help expand infrastructure to meet growing demand.
The Headmaster also drew attention to sanitation challenges, explaining that irregular refuse collection by the Ga East Municipal Assembly and other service providers was affecting effective waste management on the school compound.
Another major concern was the prolonged delay in completing an AstroTurf project on the school field, which Mr Zikpi said had denied pupils access to a safe space for sports and training.
“Our learners sometimes have to train along the streets because the field is not available to us,” he said.
Mr Zikpi appealed to the Municipal Assembly to support the contractor to complete the project, which had delayed beyond its original timeline.
Despite those challenges, the headmaster highlighted the school’s strong academic and co-curricular record, noting that it had consistently topped Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) league tables in the municipality and produced pupils admitted to top senior high schools across the country.
The anniversary celebration brought together education officials, traditional leaders, parents, alumni and pupils to celebrate three decades of academic excellence and to renew calls for collective support to sustain the school’s growth and standards.
Mr Eric Sey, the Municipal Director of Education for Ga East, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, commended the school for its sustained excellence and impact on the community since its inception in 1995, describing it as “one of the best schools in Ga East.”
“In terms of BECE performance and competitions, they are always on top,” he said, urging management and staff to work harder to maintain standards in the coming decades.
Mr Yaw Acheampong Adjei, an alumnus and guest speaker, recounted the school’s journey from its modest beginnings to becoming a leading public basic school and called on old students, parents and corporate bodies to support infrastructure development and mentorship initiatives.
Atomic Hills Estate Demonstration School was established in September 1995 by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) with an initial enrolment of 21 pupils and four staff.
The school was later taken over by government and subsequently split into two schools to improve management and accommodate growing enrolment.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe