Oyoko Methodist SHS holds second Speech and Prize-giving Day
The Oyoko Methodist Senior High School ( SHS ) at Oyoko near Koforidua in the Eastern Region is soliciting the support of the government, philanthropists, NGOs and other public-spirited Ghanaians to assist the school with a library.
The Headmaster of the School, Mr Frank Inkum Eyiah who made this known at the school’s Second Speech and Prize-giving Day on December 14, last year said the lack of a library had compelled the school’s management to convert part of the assembly hall into a library.
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The theme for the occasion was, “Quality Education, the Role of Stakeholders”
He said the improvised facility could accommodate less than 50 students at a time and this was affecting teaching and learning, since the school’s establishment in 1989.
Mr Eyiah said the school was on its own making efforts to acquire a permanent and befitting library but needed support.
According to him, despite that and other challenges, the school’s management was also working hard to construct a temporary structure to be used as library.
“I am hopeful that when that is completed, congestion at that improvised library would be reduced greatly,” he said.
Other challenges
Among other challenges the school was confronted with, Mr Eyiah said, was lack of accommodation for school’s staff numbering 40, a school bus to convey students on excursions and other ceremonies and poor road leading to the school and which makes vehicular movement to and from the school difficult.
In addition, he said some buildings in the school were becoming a danger to live in while there were also inadequate benches, chairs and tables in the classrooms and assembly hall.
He said the school was established by the Koforidua District Diocese of the Methodist Church and the Oyoko Traditional Council in 1989 and was begun as a wholly private day school with a population of 87 students.
“The government later absorbed the school into the public system and the school’s population has since increased to 4,000 and is ranked among the best performing senior high schools in the country,” he said.
GETFUND projects
Mr Eyiah said that the school was contemplating expanding its facilities to accommodate the increasing number of stuents under the government’s Free Senior High School concept.
He said the GETfund was contructing a three two-storey dormitory blocks; two two-storey 12-unit classroom blocks and a 12-seater water closet toilet.
He said the projects were nearing completion while others had taken off and were progressing steadily.
Land problem
The Headmaster of the Oyoko Methodist Senior High School appealed to the President, the ministers of Education, Finance and Economic Planning and the
Director-General of the Ghana Education Service ( GES ) to do all within their powers to pay crop compensation due the landowners whose crops were destroyed to pave way for the school to be expanded to its present boundaries.
“The non-payment of compensation to the affected farmers is thwarting the school’s efforts to register the land with the Lands Commission,” he said.
Buses
The Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Nana Adjei Boateng who was present at the function said the government was in the process of acquiring buses to deal with transportation challenges in all public schools.
He further assured the management of the school that the poor road network leading to the school would soon be given a facelift.
The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Nuertey Ayertey said education had over the years proven to be a powerful tool for breaking the cycle of poverty and reducing inequalities among people.
Some students were awarded for their outstanding performance in the various programmes of studies.