Tema Methodist SHS celebrates 40th anniversary, calls for support
Management of the Tema Methodist Day Senior High School (MEDASS) in the Greater Accra Region has appealed to the government to address the infrastructure needs of the school.
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The Headmistress of MEDASS, Juliana Nancy Frimpong, who appealed during the school's 40th anniversary, emphasised the urgent need for steps to be taken to address the infrastructure deficit confronting the institution.
The school currently has a student population of 1,400.
However, inadequate infrastructure has made the delivery of teaching and learning increasingly difficult, leaving both teachers and students to contend with numerous hardships.
She noted that the absence of an assembly hall and a bigger canteen forced students to eat their meals under trees, leaving them vulnerable to the elements and compromising their learning experience.
The headmistress lamented the stalling of some projects including a 20-unit classroom project by the Methodist University Ghana, a three-unit classroom block under construction by the Tema Metropolitan Assembly, the construction of a 14-seater washroom facility in the school, which was being funded by the African Development Bank, the construction of the school gate and a wall at the back of the school to prevent intruders from entering the compound, as well as a six-unit GETFund classroom block and called for their rapid completion.
She indicated that a refurbished ICT laboratory was awaiting the supply of computers from the Ghana Education Service (GES), adding that the school also lacked a functional bus and pick-up to transport students and administrative staff.
The guest speaker at the event, who is also a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, University of Cape Coast, Dr Alberta Bondzie-Simpson, noted that the infrastructural conditions of schools directly impacted the performance of students.
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“A calm, spacious, well lit and visually appealing campus with useful and well-maintained facilities such as classrooms, labs, well-stocked libraries, cafeterias or canteens, sports and social amenities, washrooms, administrative offices, storage and multi-purpose spaces and teachers’ lounges go a long way to improve the physical and psychological well-being of both staff and students,” he said.
Dr Bondzie-Simpson, an old student of MEDASS, said private-public partnerships could also be exploited by galvanising support from private businesses that might have an interest in educational development through their corporate social responsibility platforms.
Intervention
The President of the MEDASS Old Students Association, John Asseph, said the former students, realising the infrastructure deficit, had rolled out a fundraising programme to build a GHS25 million multi-storey project, including an assembly hall, a canteen, classroom and offices to improve the school's infrastructure needs.
The architectural design of the new MEDASS, which was unveiled, was scheduled to be completed in 10 years when the school celebrates its golden jubilee.
Writer’s email: benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh