By Francis Kwabena Cofie
Kwabenya (GAR), Sept. 01, GNA – The Kwabenya Community Senior High School has launched its 10th anniversary celebration with a passionate appeal to the government through the Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service and other relevant institutions, to give serious attention to the infrastructural and resource needs of the school.
The appeal was also extended to the Member of Parliament (MP), traditional authorities, businesses, Corporate Ghana, development partners, civil society among other well- meaning individuals, to throw their weight behind this cause.
In an address at the 10th anniversary launch of the school, the Headmistress Hajia Rahinatu Yakubu Salifu, who made the appeal said although the government had many competing demands and the responsibility for education was massive but investment in the sector must remain one of the highest priorities of national development.
“ When we invest in the Kwabenya Community SHS, we are investing in the future of the school and ultimately the future of Ghana,” he said.
Hajia Salifu said government has the primary responsibility for providing public education but quality education is a shared national responsibility.
It was on the theme: “Ten years of educating minds, shaping characters and empowering futures through community engagement”
“The school, parents, the community, old students, private sector, development partners and all have a shared responsibility towards ensuring quality education,” she said.
She said “we cannot demand excellence from students while denying them the facilities necessary to pursue excellence.”
In the same vein, she emphasised that, “ we cannot tell our teachers to produce world-class results while giving them inadequate tools.
“We cannot tell our young people that science, technology and innovation are the future if we do not equip the schools in which they learn, with the facilities that make such learning possible,” she stressed.
Hajia Salifu disclosed that the school needed additional classrooms and other essential facilities to accommodate increasing enrollment.
It also needed improved teaching and learning facilities and adequate equipment, to support effective instruction.
She acknowledged with profound gratitude the leadership and vision of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, under whose administration the school was established as part of efforts to expand access to secondary education.
She disclosed that, enrollment at the onset was nearly 600 students, with the current student population standing at close to 2,030, adding that approximately 6000 young men and women have graduated over the period.
The MP for Dome- Kwabenya, Madam Elikplim Akurugu, said her outfit would work alongside the ministry of education, the municipal assembly and development partners to deliver adequate learning facilities and infrastructure, to continuously improve teaching and learning in the school.
She said, earlier this year her office made a significant intervention in the school by refurbishing the library with modern facilities and materials.
Additionally, the MP mentioned that, her office donated 400 modern tables and chairs for use of students.
She disclosed that, her office has initiated plans to construct a mechanised borehole in the school to address sanitary issues on campus.
In a speech, the guest speaker for the occasion, Mr Francis Steele, a former director of education at Ga East, said students must be encouraged to develop their abilities in science, technology, vocational and other areas of learning.
He reminded teachers of their central role to the success of the institution, adding that their roles were to identify the potentials of the students, nurture them and help each learner to become a better version of themselves.
Mr Edmund Agbo, the Municipal Chief Executive for the Ga East Municipal Assembly, lauded the effort of the school’s forbears for laying the right foundation for the accelerated development of the heart, hands and head of the students who had gone through the walls of the school since its establishment.
He noted that ten years ago since it was established, it was gratifying that there had never been any incident of anti-social acts from students of the school which was commendable.
He used the occasion to applaud the chiefs and people of Kwabenya and the authorities of Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), for accepting to host the school on its land.
Professor Samuel B. Dampare, the Board Chairman of the school and Director General of GAEC, proposed strategically, attached boarding facilities for final year students in selected Community Day Senior High Schools.
He explained that, for final year students preparing for examinations and reducing long daily commuting could provide more time for supervised studies, revision and rest, which could potentially improve outcomes.
Activities outlined, preceding the celebration in November includes talk, inter-house ‘jama’ competition, homecoming, float and Speech and Prize Day.
GNA
Edited by Christabel Addo