Pope John’s inducts first female head
Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary (POJOSS) at Effiduase in Koforidua has inducted its first female head. She is Mrs Benedicta Carbilba Foli. The school, an all-boys boarding institution, which was established 46 years ago, has since its formation had eight heads, all of them being men.
Advertisement
Induction
At an induction ceremony to usher the new head into office, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Koforidua, Most Rev. Joseph Afrifa Agyekum, said the expectation of the church, as well as that of the Vatican, as the new head took office was high, and entreated both the teaching and non-teaching staffs to give her their maximum support and co-operation.
He charged the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to release subsidies and support funds early enough for the head to be able to embark on the necessary projects she had decided to undertake.
Mrs Foli, who holds bachelors and postgraduate degrees in Education, Agricultural Science and Human Resources from the University of Cape Coast and the Barneveld College in The Netherlands, in her induction speech, thanked the Catholic Church and the school’s stakeholders for the trust reposed in her.
She gave the assurance that she would work tirelessly to build upon the discipline and academic excellence of the school, and called on the board of governors, the PTA, Old Boys, the church and other stakeholders to help in that regard.
Challenges
The headmistress mentioned a number of challenges she had identified, including lack of water and the deplorable state of the old administration and science blocks, which need renovation, and called for help from individuals and organisations to put them into good shape.
Gratitude
The Eastern Regional Director of Education, Mrs Adriana Kandolige, who did not hide her surprise about the Catholic Church appointing a woman to head the school, expressed excitement and gratitude to the Koforidua Diocese and the Catholic Church in general for giving a woman the opportunity to head an SHS and seminary. She asked all and sundry to give the new head the maximum support for her to make a positive impact on the school.
Other dignitaries who graced the occasion were the New Juaben Municipal Director of Education, Mr A. Sowah; the Eastern Regional Manager of the Catholic Education Unit, Mrs Benedicta Ayittey, former headmasters of the school and heads of other second-cycle institutions.
