Discipline, hard work key to our success - Past Wey Gey Hey students say
For many years, students of the Wesley Girls’ High School (Wey Gey Hey), in Cape Coast have consistently performed brilliantly which has caused a large number of Junior High School (JHS) graduates to yearn to gain admission to the school.
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Wesley Girls’ High School, therefore, has a pride of place among Senior High Schools (SHSs) in the country as its students abound in the medical schools, law faculties, engineering, management institutions among others.
In a bid to seek how the management of the school has been able to ensure excellent grades of students over the years, the Graphic Youth World spoke to the Headmistress of Wey Gey Hey, Mrs Betty Dzokoto, who emphasised that discipline had been one of the core values of the school and that had been upheld to the letter by all staff and students throughout the years.
“We do not pay lip service in our institutions, we try to let our students imbibe the true values of the school and that has been helpful,” she said.
She further said that “the only secret to our school’s excellent performance in all examinations since its establishment 180 years ago is the foundation upon which it was established ----- the Lord.”
Mrs Dzokoto pointed out that the school is a mission school which was built on the foundation of the Lord “as the first line of our school anthem ----We build our school on thee oh Lord,” rightly states.
She said because the Lord is the foundation of the school, He always ensures that it progresses and also guides the leaders who have been at the helm of affairs over the years.
"The Lord has given us very dedicated, committed and visionary leaders who have been steering the affairs of the school. Besides that, the headmistress has the spontaneous support from stakeholders, particularly the old girls association and the Parents Teacher Association (PTA). They have been all largely responsible for the infrastructural development and outstanding performance of our girls," she said.
She stressed that the students are raised with lifelong values which transform them to be responsible citizens, noting that "one can be academically great but if one's character and spiritual upbringing is not acceptable, one cannot fit into society."
Past students
During interviews with some past students of the school they said their devotion to their studies and the judicious use of time have played a key role in their successes.
“From the first day we enter the school, our teachers tell us that success starts from that very day. We are told that we have no other choice but to follow that instruction and work hard every time,” Miss Lydia Ezit, a past student said.
According to her, the strict adherence to duty, either to study or engage in extra curricular activities was always taken very seriously, adding that time was allocated to every activity that went on in the school and every student diligently obeyed that.
During her time in the school, she said WASSCE candidates were not allowed to stay throughout the night to study but were given an extended period of 45 minutes for prep during which time students discussed topics in various subjects.
“The school helped to develop my character through the series of curricular and co-curricular activities it took me through. As a student, you do not have the freedom to do whatever you want to do. You always have to abide by rules and regulations to shape up,” she said..
Another past student, Miss Majorie Ashong dismissed the idea that students of the school were like “zombies”, and indicated that there is no way that you would feel like a “zombie” as some people perceive just because everyone did the task they had been asked to carry out.
Regarding discipline, she said that was instilled in the students from the first day they entered the school.
“You are made to be disciplined from the day you enter WEY GEY HEY. They make it feel part of you,” she added.
Miss Ashong said despite all the restrictions, she liked being in Wey Gey Hey because all she went through had guided her life and she was proud of that.
“All that I went through was for my own good and I am really proud of my school. It has moulded my life beautifully,” she said.
Other students
Some past students of other girls schools said Wey Gey Hey was a normal girls’ school where discipline and hard work were encouraged by the authorities to shape the lives of the students.
“I personally see Wesley Girls’ as a normal school. I went to Aburi Girls’ SHS and do not wish that I had gone to Wesley Girls’ because my school is equally good,” Janet Asante, a past student of Aburi Girls’ SHS stated.
She said she did not believe that she would have performed better in the WASSCE if she had attended Wesley Girls’ because “we have the same kind of teachers as they do”.
Miss Gertrude Addo, formerly of Accra Girls’ SHS believed that it was the few high flying students of Wesley Girls’ that had made a name for the school, and not all the students who attended that school.
“I believe we are just as good as the Gey Hey girls. It is the few who have excelled in the WASSCE who have made the school look like all the students of Wesley Girls’ are academically good,” she said.
A former student of the Achimota School, Miss Ami Asigbee said Wesley Girls’ did not cross her mind during the selection of SHS because she believed students of the school were just too rigid.
“Apart from that, I thought the competition would be too much for me. Moreover, I wanted to be in Accra.
She said Wesley Girls’ students are all prim and proper and are not allowed to do things out of courtesy. They are just too careful of everything they do”.
