Story: A. Kofoya-Tetteh, Koforidua
TWO personalities, a traditional ruler and a former minister of state, have made a passionate appeal to the government to reintroduce protocol allocation for the admission of students to senior high schools (SHS) to chiefs and communities, which was stopped when the computerised system of admission kicked off two years ago.
The Chief of Kukurantumi, Osabarima Kena Ampaw, who is also the Adontenhene of Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area, and Mr E. Appiah-Korang, a former Minister of Fuel and Power in the previous government, made the appeal at the speech and prize-giving day of the Ofori Panin Senior High School (OPASS), which also coincided with the school’s 46th anniversary at Kukurantumi at the weekend.
They said the abolition of the protocol allocation was not only a disincentive to chiefs who gave out land for the construction of the schools, but had also made it impossible for the poor in society to enrol their children in schools within their communities.
The event, which was on the theme: “46 Years of Quality Education and Discipline: The Role of Stakeholders in the New Educational Reform” was attended by a number of dignitaries.
They included Osabarima Edusei Peasah, Chief of Akyem Tafo, Messrs Emmanuel Victor Asihene and Kwasi Osei Agyepong, both past students of the school who are currently District Chief Executives for East Akyem and Atiwa respectively, and Ms Benedicta Naana Biney, the Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Education Service.
Osabarima Kena Ampaw, who set the ball rolling, said chiefs in the country had made a lot of sacrifices by giving out land and other logistics for the establishment of SHSs in their traditional areas to ensure that people, especially the poor within the area, would be able to send their children to such schools.
He said it was in that respect that provision was made for them in the admission of students to such schools, which, according to him, made it possible for chiefs to identify and assist brilliant students of poor parents to be enrolled in such schools.
Osabarima Kena Ampaw added that with the present computerised system, poor parents could not send their children to such schools because the computers sent the wards far away from home.
Mr Appiah-Korang, who was the guest of honour, for his part, said currently students in the catchment areas of SHSs could not attend such schools and that had defeated the purpose for which they were established.
He also appealed to parents to see to the educational needs of their children instead of spending lavishly on funerals.
The former minister further asked the government to ensure that poor students were enrolled in schools within their communities.
Miss Biney, for her part, dwelt extensively on the new educational reforms and said since Information Communication Technology (ICT) had become a core subject, her outfit would be upgrading computer laboratories in schools to be manned by computer experts to guide the students.
The Deputy Director-General praised OPASS for its excellent academic achievements over the years.
She, however, cautioned both students and staff against immorality, adding that anyone found wanting would be severely dealt with in accordance with Ghana Education Service (GES) regulations.
The Student Prefect, Master David Iddrisu, called on the authorities of the school to fully equip the science laboratory, and also urged the students to study hard to achieve their ambitions.
The Headmaster of the school, Mr Kwaku Kyei-Brobbey, said the school, which was founded 46 years ago with 14 students and four tutors, now had a student population of 1,650 comprising 1,040 girls and 610 boys.
He said the academic record of the school over the years had been excellent, adding that it scored 73 per cent pass at the final examinations in 2004, 77.3 per cent in 2005, 85.79 per cent in 2006 and 98.15 per cent in 2007.
Mr Kyei-Brobbey attributed the successes to discipline among students and staff.
He said the school was facing a lot of challenges such as inadequate staff accommodation, an assembly hall and school bus, and appealed to the government and other stakeholders for assistance.
Mr Kyei-Brobbey expressed his appreciation to the immediate past headmaster of the school, Mr Amo-Dako, and all those whose efforts had brought the school to its present status.
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