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The 1993/95 Year Group of the school’s old students, handing over the baton for the organisation of the next event, to the 1994/96 Year Group
The 1993/95 Year Group of the school’s old students, handing over the baton for the organisation of the next event, to the 1994/96 Year Group

OLA Girls SHS commended for high academic excellence

The Managing Director of Aviarthur, an aviation company, Mrs Irene D. K. Arthur, has lauded the authorities of the Our Lady of Apostles (OLA) Senior High School in Ho for their hard work and diligence that had led to the attainment of academic excellence and moral discipline in the school.

Mrs Arthur, who is also an aviation safety/air transport management consultant and a member of the school’s 1993-95 Year Group, also commended the authorities for instilling sound moral values to better the lives of students.

She was speaking at the 65th anniversary and Speech and Prize-giving Day of the school on the theme: "Empowering our future women leaders through structured and purposeful education - Sixty-five years on."

The programme attracted a number of dignitaries and old students of the school from the various year groups who played various roles to make the celebration a memorable one.

Mrs Arthur advised the students to work hard to achieve their goals and set their eyes to achieve high academic excellence.

CAMFED

In her address, the Deputy Minister of Education, Mrs Gifty Twum Ampofo, said the government was working with non-governmental organisations such as the Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) to improve access to quality education for young girls.

The ministry, according to her, would continue to invest in education at all levels to create opportunities for both young boys and girls to achieve secondary education and to improve upon their prospects in life.

She said the government’s Free Senior High School policy was meant, among other things, to address financial challenges facing parents, in relation to educating their children, especially girls, at the secondary level, pointing out that "we must continue to encourage more girls into engineering, science and mathematics because those areas are still male dominated and are key to development as a nation".

Traditional stereotypes

Mrs Ampofo stated that women continued to face fundamental challenges such as teenage pregnancies, child marriages, issues with land ownership and domestic violence, hence the need to challenge “traditional stereotypes that prevent girls from exploiting their full potential.”

She advised students to take advantage of the several opportunities available to them and work hard by taking inspiration from women who have broken the barriers to attain their goals.

In his address, the Catholic Bishop of the Ho Diocese, Most Reverend Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, noted that the church had been at the forefront of education and had also trained high calibre of individuals who “occupy positions in government.”

He strongly advocated the inclusion of French as a major course in the school's curriculum, since Ghana shared borders with Francophone countries.

The Headmistress of the school, Mrs Regina A. M. Coffie, noted that although the school had chalked up a number of successes, it faced the challenge of inadequate supply of trained teachers and potable water.

She commended the staff for their hard work and dedication to duty and appealed for continuos support from all stakeholders to enhance the school’s operations.

Awards

Deserving teaching and non-teaching staff and students were rewarded for long service, hard work and dedication and excellence in academic performance.

Madam Hahosu Selina received the Best Female Teacher award while Miss Alberta Petiafo won the Best West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) 2018 Student of the Year.

Background

OLA was founded at Keta in 1954 by Bishop Anthony Konings, then Bishop of the Keta Diocese, with 35 students, and was initially named Queen of Apostles Secondary School.

It was later renamed Our Lady of Apostle (OLA) Secondary School and transferred to its current site in Ho for expanded infrastructural facilities.

The current student population is 2,410.

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