Catholic Church inaugurates new school

Maasu (B/A), Sept. 22, GNA - Delany Academy, a Catholic basic school established by Patrician Brothers of Ireland at Maasu in the Dormaa Municipality, has been inaugurated.

The school, which was started in 2008 with 72 pupils in temporary structures near the parish hall of St Francis de Sales Church at Dormaa Ahenkro, is expected to be expanded to the senior high school level. The Most Rev Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, Catholic Bishop of Sunyani, facilitated the arrival of the Patrician Brothers in the country while Oseadeeyo Osagyefo Agyeman Badu 11 donated 64 acres of land for the project.

Rev. Brother Jerome Ellens, Superior General of the Patrician Brothers, said the project's second phase would be the construction of a brothers' residence, a junior high school, a dining hall and a boundary wall to protect the school.

He paid a tribute to Bishop Gyamfi, the Dormaa Traditional Council, church members as well as all who helped to complete the first phase of the project.

The Most Rev Gyamfi said the school, like all other Catholic private schools, was not profit-oriented but was aimed at providing quality and integral education in the area. "With the establishment of the school we are creating a solid foundation for the integral education of our children to prepare them adequately for the future", he said.

He called for a debate on why in most cases private schools performed better academically than the public ones, perceived to have qualified teachers and more government support and protection.