From Issah Alhassan, Kumasi
ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES at the Kumasi Anglican Senior High School (KASS) in Kumasi has received a massive boost, following the acquisition of a brand new KIA Bus and the commissioning of a new Staff Common Complex to aid teaching and learning.
Both the Staff Common Complex and the Grandbird KIA Bus, which were acquired through the school’s own internally generated funds, with support from the Parents’ Teachers Association (PTA) and the Atwima Kwanwoma Rural Bank, were commissioned last Saturday, during the school’s 40th Anniversary Speech and Prize Giving day, organized to honour dedicated
staff and students for their excellent works.
The one-storey building is expected, amongst other things, to accommodate part of the ever increasing student population, including a Biology Laboratory, whilst the 50-seater bus will also assist in the transport of students and staff.
The Headmaster of the school, Mr. Alex Conduah, said at the occasion that the school had witnessed steady progress since 1987, upon the assumption of office of Mr. Andrews Evans Kyere aka Kontonkyi.
He said over the past three years, the school’s academic performance in the West African Senior High School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) had been impressive, with a record of 100% in 2011/12 and 99 in 2013, stressing that between 2004 and 2013, the total number of students from KASS who have gained admission to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) stood at 1,053.
He said apart from the internal academic achievements, the school has also excelled in other external academic and extra curricula activities including sports competition, National Maths and Science Quiz, Ghana Standards Authority Essay Competition and NCCE Project Citizens amongst others.
Mr. Conduah also commended the PTA for their continued support, in terms of provision of infrastructure and other incentives for learning and expressed gratitude to government, the Asantehene, the Anglican Diocese of Kumasi and old students for their support.
The Chairman of the Board of Governors of the school, Dr. Edward Prempeh stated at the occasion, which was celebrated under the theme: “KASS @ 40 – fulfilling the vision of our founding fathers”, that the vision of the founding fathers is academic excellence through discipline and the moulding of the character conduct and the behavior of the students so as to make them useful and upright citizens in the country.
He emphasized that academic achievement must go with integrity for the scholar to be respected, successful and useful to the society.
According to him, the challenge for teaching staff was how they would translate theory into practice for the students to appreciate their environment better and create innovative solutions for the challenges they face in the real world outside school.
Dr. Prempeh, noted that the good foundation laid by the forefathers was solidified by the school’s elevation to that of a model school in 2006 and since then the additional superstructure has been phenomenal.
He indicated that the School has made a giant stride in academic and extracurricular activities while a lot of girls have been admitted as boarders and hinted that efforts were being made to build structures to accommodate the ever increasing student population and some of the members of staff.
Dr. Prempeh congratulated Archbishop Yinkah Safo for being elected by his colleague Bishops to the highest position of PRIMATE OF CPWA in addition of his role as Archbishop of the Internal Province of Ghana and Bishop of the Kumasi Anglican Diocese.
The Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon. Samuel Yaw Adusei, on his part, expressed government’s commitment to continue to invest in quality education as evidenced by the proportion of national budget that goes into educational sector.
He said with the government’s expressed commitment in the construction of 200 new SHS across the country, the distribution of Better Ghana Agenda Laptops and the provisions of infrastructures to existing schools, it was expected that SHS education in the country would be highly improved and made accessible to all.
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and Hon. Isaac Osei, Member of Parliament for Subin Constituency were in attendance.