Hills International School holds first Graduation, Speech and Prize-giving day
The Ningo-Prampram District Director of Education, Mrs. Matilda Amy Quartey, has tasked private schools to abide by the Ghana Education Service (GES) policy regulations.
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She says while the GES requires that at least a third of teachers in any private school are trained teachers along with head teachers who are professionals, the reality is far from the required standard, a situation she described as worrisome.
Mrs. Amy Quartey was guest speaker at the first Graduation, Speech and Prize-giving day of Hills International School, a private educational complex at Afienya in the Ningo-Prampram District.
The event which was held on the theme, “The Role of Hills International School in Achieving Excellence in Education in Ghana”, saw the school children entertain parents and other guests with splendid traditional and foreign dances, drama and recitals.
Mrs. Matilda Amy Quartey
Mrs. Amy Quartey said the district has 51 public and over 100 private schools distributed in six circuits, and added that while the private schools do equally well as the public, there is a lot more they could do.
She commended authorities of Hills International School for providing excellent infrastructure and conducive environment, and also for instituting the day to recognize and reward hard working students and teachers, saying it is a step in the right direction as it would motivate them to work better.
She reminded the school authorities that while academic performance at the basic school level is measured first by BECE results before other criteria such as behavior and maturity of pupils, they also have an obligation to ensure that the pupils are grounded very well in pre-school experiences and other early child development skills.
Describing the improvement of learning and development in early childhood as an essential component of the educational agenda for the next decade and for educational excellence, she said research points to the importance of early year stimulation and sound development experiences when children are biologically primed for learning.
She asked teachers to prepare well for their daily interactions with pupils – preparing lesson notes, organising teaching and learning materials, dressing decently and using polite language – saying all these contribute immensely to the achievement of excellence.
A section of parents and other guests at the event
Mrs. Amy Quartey said teachers must also provide support and encouragement for learners by reinforcing desirable behaviours such as sharing, helping friends, saying sorry, forgiving each other, making amends, accepting each other, team work, taking turns and being polite.
She challenged parents to embrace and discharge their responsibilities towards the holistic development of their wards by complementing school activities and sharing insights with teachers on their wards, explaining that such cooperative bonds between parents and teachers impact positively on children.
“Starting early and reinforcing good behavior in and out of the classroom will yield a positive future. Children don’t learn good behaviour automatically yet they are an essential part of being a well-rounded adult that is necessary in achieving excellence”, she said.
The school children entertaining the occasion
The Proprietor of the School, Mr. Kwame Sewor said the school which was established in September 2014 and has a population of about 100 pupils, is blessed with enormous resources and is so focused on quality, holistic education that nothing will stand in its way to be one of the best in the country.
He urged parents to strive to support the education of their children as they constitute their very future.
Prizes including books, school uniforms, and scholarships were handed pupils who excelled in various disciplines from crèche, kindergarten, primary and JHS, with 11-year-old Princess Kwapong adjudged the best graduating pupil.
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