Cape Coast, July 15, GNA - Mr Ebow Hutchful, President of Ghana National College Old Students' Association in Cape Coast, on Saturday appealed to Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) to negotiate with Government to review the admission to secondary schools through the computerised system to allow a percentage for old students associations.
He noted that the enthusiasm of old students to assist their alma mater had waned due to lack of direct benefit to them for their efforts to improve on the infrastructure development in schools. Mr Hutchful made the appeal at the 59th Speech and Prize-Giving Day of Ghana National College at Cape Coast. It was under the theme, "Realizing the vision - 59 years of Quality Education".
He suggested that old students associations could venture into the award of contracts or supply of food items and stationery to their alma mater to generate funds for the schools and associations. Professor Samuel Sefa-Dedeh, Dean, Faculty of Engineering Sciences of University of Ghana, Legon observed that Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's First President who established the school envisaged three visions. These were that it would be co-educational and inter-denominational, provide best quality education and inculcate an enduring culture among the youth.
Prof. Sefah-Dedeh, an old student of the school, said it had made contribution to the development of Ghana but required partnership between stakeholders to improve on its achievements.
Mr Robert Koomson-Barnes, Headmaster of the school, said their academic performance had been improving and in the maiden West African School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) its performance was marvellous. He said out of 534 candidates presented by the school for the examination, 232 passed in eight subjects, 148 in seven subjects, 87 in six, 32 in five, 11 in four, 13 in three, five in two subjects, one in one subject and five absentees, no failures and no cancellation of results.
Mr Koomson-Barnes commended the Parent-Teacher-Association (PTA) for their contribution to the development of the school. Mr Joseph Nuamah-Hagan, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the school, recommended that the school should celebrates its speech and prize-giving day on Dr Nkrumah's birthday, September 21, every year. He appealed to old students to assist in fencing the school against encroachment and for expansion in future.
