Ridge Church School celebrates 68th Speech and Prize-Giving Day
The Ridge Church School has celebrated its 68th Speech and Prize-Giving Day, with a call on the school community to embrace innovative approaches to education without losing sight of foundational values.
An old student of the school, Rev. Dr Davina Markwei, who made the call, encouraged the students to move beyond mere academic performance and pursue relevance through meaningful contributions to their communities and nation.
The event, which took place in Accra last Saturday (July 12) and was on the theme: “Transforming today, shaping tomorrow”, was a reflection of the school’s commitment to nurturing learners who are prepared not only for academic success but also meaningful contributions to society.
It further highlighted the importance of investing in today’s learners through quality education, creativity and strong values, in order to shape a better future.
Rev. Dr (Mrs) Markwei said leadership was not reserved for adults alone, adding that even the smallest choices, when done with excellence and integrity, could spark long-lasting change.
She challenged students to use their skills to solve real-world problems — from designing learning tools and creating businesses to writing poetry that inspired.
Rev. Dr Markwei reminded the gathering that true transformation began with a mindset shift and a belief in one’s own potential to lead, regardless of age or background.
She called on all stakeholders to play active roles in building a generation equipped to influence society with excellence and purpose.
Challenges, needs and infrastructure development
The Headmistress, Nana Ama Acheampomaa Bodasu, expressed concern that the late arrivals and early pick-ups of children interrupted the smooth running of academic activities.
She said it is especially so with the junior high school (JHS), where students had developed a pattern of missing early morning sessions, and appealed to parents to make necessary sacrifices to ensure their wards arrive on time and remain in school throughout the day.
Mrs Bodasu highlighted the issue of incomplete textbook sets among some students and emphasised the importance of every learner having full access to learning materials, calling on parents to prioritise this for the new academic year.
She outlined urgent requirements the school needed, which included 30 new computers for the ICT laboratory, a dedicated school bus for learners at the Manet campus, and additional smart TVs for Ghanaian language, ICT and visual arts classrooms.
Additionally, she mentioned a public address (PA) system for school-wide announcements, new wall boards for the lower primary classrooms, equipment for both junior and senior science laboratories and the refurbishment of the playroom and Creative Arts and Design classroom.
Mrs Bodasu appealed to parents and the wider school community to support award sponsorships, especially in subjects such as Religious and Moral Education (RME), Social Studies and History, which often received less attention.
She further invited private bus owners who were willing to partner with the school to help resolve transportation needs.
Mrs Bodasu also hinted at the progress in the school’s Cambridge Lower Secondary Programme, which had begun with 11 students in Year Seven.
She said the school was 99 per cent through with its full accreditation with the British Council, adding that the upcoming academic year would see the appointment of an assistant head and additional staff to strengthen the Cambridge programme’s implementation.
