The Mount Zion Basic School in Accra has marked its 70th anniversary celebration and a graduation ceremony with a pledge to provide quality education to Ghanaian children.
This is by developing pupils, staff academically, physically and spiritually.
“This is our road map towards which all teaching and learning activities are geared,” the Head of the school, Ophelia Delali Dogbe Zungbey, said at the climax of the 70th anniversary celebration and graduation ceremony last Saturday.
The school was the first private institution in Nima in 1955 by Rev. Emile Doe Dogbe-Gakpetor.
From a humble beginning of 12 students, and now has a student population of 875 and 40 staff.
At the event held on the theme: “70 Years of Excellent Education”, there were captivating poetry recitals, cultural performances and choreography display by the pupils and students.
Decades
Mrs Zungbey said seven decades ago, “We witnessed the birth of this great institution. An institution which has brought honour to the whole of the Nima township and the nation at large,” she said.
The road to success, she said, was not all that smooth and rosy, but indicated that in retrospect, the Almighty had indeed been faithful.
“He has been the solid foundation on which our focus as a school thrives,” she said.
Mrs Zungbey said the results of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) of the school had been encouraging as most, if not all of, the students gained admission to schools of their choice.
“It will interest you to know that over the past 10 years, we have graduated 478 students who have completed their university education, some still at the tertiary institution, while others are working,” she said.
A Lecturer at the Department of Religion Studies at the University of Ghana, Legon, Dr Fatimatu Sulemanu, who is also an old student of the school, said the institution had been one of shaping lives, nurturing dreams, and building a legacy grounded in compassion, resilience and excellence.
“Today, we do not merely celebrate the passage of time. We honour a journey that began with vision and heart and has become a cornerstone of educational excellence in this community and Ghana as a whole.
“My Zion School, which is a symbol and testament to the fact that one person's decision to solve a problem can change so many lives over decades,” she said.
Looking back over the years, Dr Sulemanu, who was the guest speaker, said: “We can say with pride this school has not only kept pace with time, but it has also often led the way.
As we look forward, we carry with us a rich legacy, a strong foundation and a clear purpose to continue delivering education that is excellent, holistic and transformative”.
The Headmaster, Nicholas Kwasi Awadzi, said the institution strove to provide a platform that groomed individuals with sound academic and moral discipline.
