Mangoase SHS holds Speech Day
The President of the Presbyterian University College (PUC), Prof. Kofi Sraku-Larteh, has called for higher enrolment of students into tertiary institutions as part of steps to boost the human capacity the country needs for its development.
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He stated that for any meaningful progress to be achieved, tertiary enrolment in Ghana should be at least 25 per cent of the population, representing about six million Ghanaians.
“Amid the power, water, fuel, gas and environmental problems, many of the ills in society, including corruption, seem to be blamed on education, as our institutions of learning have not been able to produce the quality required for national development,” Prof. Sraku-Larteh stated.
Speaking at the 22nd anniversary and first Speech and Prize-giving Day of the Mangoase Senior High School in the Akuapem North municipality in the Eastern Region on Saturday, the PUC President said, “For us to achieve higher enrolment in tertiary institutions, secondary schools need to enrol about 250,000 people every year and the 50 tertiary institutions should admit more than 70,000.”
“We are presently training just about 30 per cent of tertiary graduates needed every year,” he stated.
The event, held on the theme: “Pursuing quality education in the face of daunting challenges”, was used to recognise the academic distinction of students.
Honours were also given to some retired members of staff of the school.
Master Peter Hayford and Ms Augustina Sika of SHS Two and Three, respectively, who swept most of the awards given out, were offered scholarships by the school’s governing board for their tertiary education.
The President of the PUC stated that Ghana used to be the envy of many countries in Africa because of the quality of its educational system.
“Ghana continues to bask in this glory and is even touted as a beacon in Africa, compared with countries Ghana started with such as Korea and Malaysia. However, it is obvious that the more than 170 years of formal education in the country has not produced the anticipated impact, especially in terms of the development of the nation and the individual,” he stated.
The Chairman of the GETFund Board, Dr Kwabena Adjei, expressed worry over the stalled GETFund projects in the school and assured the school management of the government’s commitment to address that challenge.
“We will ensure that our students in this community school get access to a more conducive learning and teaching environment to raise their standard of academic performance,” he said.
The Board Chairman of the school, Mr Ransford Tetteh, who expressed happiness at Master Hayford and Ms Sika’s academic distinction, announced the decision of the board to sponsor them at the tertiary level.
The Headmaster of the school, Mr S. Nyarko Agyiri, stated that the school had benefitted from the GETFund, which he said had put up a two-storey, 12-unit classroom block for the school.
“However, work on another 12-unit classroom block, which is still under construction and has reached the roofing stage, has halted,” he stated, adding, “The GETFund dormitory project for the boys is also at the roofing level.”
He mentioned the lack of assembly and dining halls, as well as a computer laboratory and computers, as some of the challenges facing the school.
“There is also an urgent need for staff accommodation, mechanised boreholes and a fence around the school and we appeal to the appropriate quarters to have all stalled GETFund projects commenced,” he added.
The Chairman for the occasion, Nana Ansah Sasraku, the Mamfehene and Kyidomhene of Akuapem, urged all stakeholders to support the development of education in the country, especially at the community level.