Agogo SHS calls for improved infrastructure

Agogo State Senior High School (SHS) has marked its Golden Jubilee with a call to government to hasten to address the inadequate infrastructure affecting the smooth operation of the school.

Dr. Alexis Frimpong-Nimo, the Headmaster, complained about the lack of accommodation for the teaching staff and students, insufficient classrooms, absence of decent library and an assembly hall.

The situation where teachers including himself and his two assistants, stayed in rented apartments – a distance of about two kilometers away from the school, was making it difficult to effectively supervise the students. Out of the 98 teaching staff, only seven are presently housed on the school compound.

Dr. Frimpong-Nimo, addressing the jubilee speech and prize-giving day at Agogo, said he found it troubling that construction works on a block of flats for teachers, started 36 years ago had been abandoned.

Contractors’ building a three-story dormitory block for the boys had also stopped the job because of funding.

There was the added problem of perennial water shortage and he said these needed to be fixed to bring some relief to the students and their teachers.

“Fifty (50) years of discipline, steady academic progress: The role of stakeholders” was the theme for the event and brought together parents, old students, politicians and education officials.

Dr. Frimpong-Nimo said in spite of the plethora of problems, academic performance of the school had been strong and this had been the result of strict enforcement of discipline.

Its’ achievement in sports and other co-curricular activities had been equally remarkable.

Mr. Eric Opoku, the Ashanti Regional Minister, in an address read for him urged the teachers to continue to show dedication, commitment and passion for the job they were doing.

Students should also work hard on their books and resist the temptation to cheat at examinations.

He said the government had made education a priority on its development agenda and would do everything to make the school environment academic friendly.

He assured the school that it would benefit from some programmes and projects lined up by the government to improve conditions in second cycle institutions.