By Erica Apeatua Addo
Huni-Valley (W/R), Dec 09, GNA-The Huni-Valley Senior High School (SHS) in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality of the Western Region, has held a durbar to climax its 50th anniversary celebration.
The well attended event was held on the theme: “50 Years of Excellent Education: The Role of Stakeholders”.
In a speech read on behalf of Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister of Education, he said the future of any society had been determined by the mindset which schools cultivated in their young people.
He said the role of SHS’s in creating positive mindset skewed toward patriotism, hard work, fellow-feeling, honesty, and self-discipline was very strategic.
According to the Minister, instilling good moral values in children helped them grow into responsible and well-mannered adults who could navigate challenges without compromising what was right.
He stated “While I commend Great HUNIVASS for the feats achieved over the past 50 years, permit me to provoke your thoughts on one question: In the next 50 years will HUNIVASS still be seen as a school that upholds and practicalizes the principle of “Mind is Might’- the school’s motto.”
Mr Iddrisu said the question was critical because of the challenge of diminishing national character orientation among young people who went through the school system, adding that the lyrics of the national anthem and patriotic songs, highlighted communal spirit and nationalism as essential aspects of Ghanaian identity.
He noted that sectional interests, fueled by partisan commitment, were rapidly destroying the national identity and values, stressing that the national anthem was often ignored when played, and the spirit of volunteerism had been declining.
Mr Iddrisu said to stem that trend, the secondary schools backed by stakeholders, had a critical role to play.
The Minister reminded the students that they were the next generation of leaders and urged them to take pride in their school and work hard.
He reaffirmed his unweaving commitment to work with all stakeholders to improve the quality of secondary education in Ghana.
Justice Kweku Tawiah Ackaah-Boafo, a Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana, indicated that HUNIVASS had been instrumental in educating many great men and women who held important positions in the economy.
He said the commitment of educators, the government, and parents had contributed to the success of students, both past and present, adding that administrators and policymakers had also ensured that decisions, resources, and reforms were geared towards addressing global demands.
Justice Ackaah-Boafo pointed out that in this digital age, the internet and technology had created unprecedented opportunities for global connectivity, innovation, and learning.
He, however, said the misuse of those tools had led to serious, lasting legal and social consequences, particularly for young people.
He urged the youth to use technology to learn, create, innovate, and better their communities.
Mr Daniel Aidoo, the Headmaster of the School, saluted the founders, past heads, alumni, staff, and stakeholders for their unrelenting efforts that had brought the anniversary commemoration to fruition.
He cited inadequate dormitories, classrooms, and accommodation for staff and the headmaster, unfenced compound, as well as the lack of furniture, computers, and a school bus as some challenges facing the school.
Mr Aidoo revealed that this year, although HUNIVASS placed first in the zonal athletics, they were unable to participate in the inter-zonal games in Sekondi because they did not have a bus to transport the students.
He mentioned that the school had projected its student population to grow from 1700 to 3000 over the next decade and appealed to stakeholders to help expand the available facilities.
Mr Robert Wisdom Cudjoe, Member of Parliament for the Prestea Huni-Valley constituency, said provisions had been made for about 200 buses to the constituency, and he was certain HUNIVASS would get one.
Additionally, he promised to donate 10 computers with accessories to the school’s computer laboratory and gave the assurance that he had already written to the GETFund to come and continue the construction of the boy’s dormitory, which had been abandoned for years.
“I have discussed with my MCE to take care of the headmasters bungalow. I was informed an estimate had been made roughly two years ago, but there was no outcome from the assembly,” he said.
He called on the steering committee of the school to team up with him to promote HUNIVASS, which had established itself as a leading school in the Prestea Huni-Valley constituency.
Mr Cudjoe presented 30 tablets and constitutions to the student awardees, while the best male and female students in addition, received a plaque and a cash prize of GH¢1,000 each.
Nana Kwabena Amponsah IV, Chief of Bosomtwi Divisional Area, commended the school’s dedication to education, and encouraged the current generation of students to uphold the torch of excellence handed down by those before them.
Huni-Valley SHS, affectionately known as Great HUNIVASS, was established on 15th November 1975 to deliver quality secondary education and to shape lives in the Western region and beyond.
GNA
Edited by Justina Paaga/Lydia Kukua Asamoah