Equip schools to achieve objectives of new education curriculum - Government told

The Headmistress of the Covenant Presbyterian Preparatory School, Dzorwulu, Evelyn Amoamah Antwi has charged government to strive harder and ensure that all basic schools in the country are provided with the adequate resources and ingredients in order to make the dream of the new education curriculum achievable.

The new education curriculum which was launched by the Ghana Education Service on Thursday, April 11, as part of ongoing reforms in the sector, particularly at the pre-tertiary level, seeks to make education more responsive to the human resource and development needs of Ghana. It is expected to take effect at the start of the new academic calendar in September.

Speaking to journalists at the twelfth graduation ceremony of Dzorwulu Presby Preparatory School in Accra on Friday, the headmistress stressed that until government realize the need to provide basic schools with the adequate tools, infrastructure and resources to work with, the purpose of implementing the program cannot be achieved.

"Under this new education curriculum, we cannot afford to see children sitting and writing on the bare floor as it is being done in some part of the country recently, so we're calling on government, the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ministry of Education to put in place all the necessary ingredients to ensure the success of the new curriculum”.

Delivering his keynote address, Minister in Charge of District Covenant Presby Congregation, Dzorwulu, Rev. P. O. A Bawua Bonsafo reflecting on the theme of the event: “Raising the standard of basic education, the role of stakeholders” observed that most often teachers are blamed whenever criticisms about falling educational standards are made.

He posited that it is unfair to blame teachers alone for the problem simply because education is a shared responsibility which entails that the society or government, parents and guardians including the Parent-Teacher Associations and even the church have a big part to play.

“If stakeholders play their part well, in coordination with the other stakeholders, we will see the standard of education rising. If we leave it to one or two of the stakeholders to shoulder all the responsibility for basic education then it will not happen”, he stressed.

The revered clergyman charged parents and guardians to be responsible in the upkeep of their children and ensure that they receive warnings about the dangers posed by long hours of watching television or chatting on social media and devise strategies to help them out.

Rev. P. O. A Bawua Bonsafo bemoaned that children must not be encouraged to watch soap operas or sex themes with adult as they undermine their good moral upbringing and warned parents and guardians against it.

He advised children to be submissive to the orders of their parents and guardians always whenever they insist that they should read their text books or story books, adding that those rules are meant only for their own good.

Dr. Charles Fordjour, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pharma Symbiosis who chaired the occasion admonished the students to eschew smoking, use of hard drugs including avoid bad companies and focus their attention on education with firm belief in God to make it successful in life.

For her part, Regional Manager of Presbyterian Schools-GA, Joyce Osae-Apenteng advised the students to always concentrate on their studies and make it their business in life as well as ensure that they continue to respect the core values of the school which focuses on centrality of the word of God, respect, discipline and hard work.



While congratulating the graduands for successful passing out from one stage to another, she urges all of them to work even harder and put in more efforts as they move on to the next stage of the educational ladder.

The colorful ceremony marked the graduation of sixty-three (63) Kindergarten and Junior High School (JHS) scholars. Out of that number, thirty-seven pupils graduated from Kindergarten Two to Class One while the remaining twenty-six passed out from JHS 3 to Senior High School (SHS).

The event also coincided with an awards ceremony which saw some deserving staff, teachers and students honored. Among the tall list of awardees for the day, Gideon Appiah was adjudged the overall best teacher while the overall best graduating student for 2018/2019 academic year award (JHS 3) was conferred on Nyarko Kukua Esoun who took home a Samsung tablet, a certificate of recognition and a hamper. Other honorees include, Kelvin (JHS Two) Brani Agyemang Josiah Kwadwo (JHS One), Wilson Emmanuel (overall best Class Six).

The highpoint of the ceremony was the presentation of certificates of merit to the young graduates but the thrill of the occasion came from a delightful line-up of choreographed Ghanaian dances and drama sketches, poetry recitals and above all a spectacular display put up by the taekwondo and cadet team of the school.

History of the school

Founded in 1992 through the acquisition of the Loveliz Nursery School by Mrs. Elizabeth Nyarko and Mrs. Akosua Ahidoho, Covenant Presby School started with only five [5] pupils and operated as a nursery school for eight years in the church’s auditorium due to unavailability of funds and infrastructure. The then minister in-charge Rev. Gyang Duah, the session clerk Dr. E.K.O. Opuni and session appointed Mrs. Felicia Nyarko as the supervisor of the school.

In the year 2000, the church established the Primary Department and subsequently, the Junior High School Department in 2006. It was first chaired by Mr. Steve Opare- Obisaw who was appointed by the school board. The school sat for its first B.E.C.E in 2008 under the headship of Mr. Stephen Owusu.

From a humble beginning, Covenant Presby School located in Dzorwulu, a suburb of Accra has grown to become a reputable faith-based school wholly responsible not only for effective teaching and learning but raising of young future leaders in Ghana. Currently with a student population of 450, the school is run by a dedicated both academic and non-academic staff of 35.

In the year 2010, the current head of school Mrs. Evelyn Amoamah Antwi was appointed by the school board in consultation with the then Local Manager Rev. Otuo Acheampong and session.

In the same year, the then Chairman Mr. Steve Opare-Obisaw gave way for the appointment of Dr. Bennet Kpentey a Management Consultant as the new Chairman of the school board. Other members of the board include: Mrs. Victoria Quartey, Ms. Victoria Ofori, Ms. Juliana Obuo-Mensah, Mr. Stephen Amakye Ansah, Mr. Daniel Adjei, Mr. Daniel Owiredu and Mr. Vincent Tetteh.

Achievements of the school

The school has a track record of 100% pass in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results. In the year 2013 and 2014 BECE, the school placed 1st and 3rd positions respectively in the Ayawaso Sub-Metro league table.

It was also recognized in the Ga Presbytery Awards in the categories of the Best student BECE 2014 (private school category), Best teacher 2014 (private school category) and the Best student BECE 2018 (private school category).