Navrongo SHS cries for rehabilitation

Navrongo, June 19, GNA - The Navrongo Senior High School (NAVASCO) in the Upper East Region, which was established in the 1960s has made a public appeal for support to rehabilitate and expand its infrastructure. This came to light when the Headmaster of the School, Mr. Patrick Tangbanyire, and some of his staff conducted the Minister of Education, Mr. Alex Tettey-Enyo round the school during the Minister's working visit to the Region.

Briefing the sector Minister, Mr Tangbanyire stated that the school had turned out a lot of people who were contributing to the socio-economic development of the country, yet it had been neglected for a long time and was currently living on past glories. He said the dormitory blocks, the Administration block, classrooms, dinning hall and staff bungalows had not seen any major rehabilitation for many years. He added that only three dormitory blocks were renovated in 2009.

The Headmaster told the sector Minister that in connection with the admission of students for the four year programme, the school would need a one- unit 12-classroom block and a dormitory, as well as the expansion of the dinning hall.

He said there was the urgent need for the mechanization of some of the boreholes in the school to maintain regular supply of water to the kitchen and the school's administration block. He added that the school needed an ICT Centre and a library complex to meet the growing needs of students in a challenging technological world and a pick-up truck to allow for easy mobility.

Mr Tangbanyire told the sector Minister that the school would be celebrating its 50th anniversary in September, and appealed to him to help give it a facelift to befit the Golden Jubilee celebration. Responding, the Education Minister assured the school's administration that his Ministry would give the School the needed facelift to celebrate its Golden Jubilee. In addition, the school would benefit from the Senior High School Infrastructure programme under which adequate classrooms, dormitories, Administration block and other basic infrastructure would be provided, by September this year.

On the recent student riots in the school, Tettey-Enyo noted that NAVASCO had produced prominent people over the years who were occupying high positions in various establishments in the country, and said it was regrettable that students from such a reputable school should go on rampage. He appealed to the school administration to instil discipline in the students.

Meanwhile, the Committee which was set up to investigate the causes of the students rampage is expected to submit its findings at the end of this week to the Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo. It would be recalled that on June 13 this year, the students went on a rampage during which valuable school property was destroyed. According to the Regional Minister, students who would be found culpable would be surcharged for the damage caused. He warned that Government would not sit down and allow students to destroy State property and get away with it. 19 June 10