WASS headmistress retires after 34 year sservice

After attaining the compulsory retiring age of 60, the Headmistress of the West Africa Senior High School (WASS) in the La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipality in the Greater Accra Region, Dr Shine Agatha Ofori, has been sent off by the school’s management at a short ceremony.

Seeing her off, the staff espoused her dedication to duty throughout her 34 years of active service and professional teaching in the Ghana Education Service (GES).

Citation

In a citation presented to her at the send-off at the school last Thursday, the Chairman of the WASS Board, Nii Addokwei Moffatt, described her as a great leader whose commitment to service and leadership earned her a difference in the administration of the school.

“Your innovative programmes, compassionate guidance, steadfast support and your desire to foster a culture of growth, respect, and achievement resulted in good WASSCE grades in 2022 and 2023. Your vision to take the school to another level gained the support of the various student year groups, parents and other stakeholders.

This helped improve the infrastructure and other essential needs of the school immensely,” the citation read.

Mention was also made of her renovation of classroom blocks, water supply equipment, street lights, laptops for once empty ICT laboratory, furniture and an industrial gas stove for the kitchen, among others, as a testament to her revision of the school’s vision and mission statements which exposed students to knowledge that would equip them to be global competitors.            

She was also described as an epitome of wisdom from which the school tapped knowledge for effective teaching and learning.

The Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) also highly lauded the headmistress for her commitment, dedication towards her official duties and above all, her love for the students and the staff, which improved the teaching and learning in the school since she took over the administration of WASS.  

Work-life  

Dr Mrs Ofori turned 60 on August 23, 2024. She started her professional teaching career in English Language and French in 1990 at Peki Secondary School, Keta Secondary School, Bishop Herman Boys College at Kpando and Accra Academy, among others, and retired at the rank of Deputy Director of the GES.

Before her retirement, Dr Mrs Ofori headed five senior high schools, which included La Presbyterian Senior High School, Osu Presbyterian Senior High School, Odorgonno Senior High School, Amasaman Senior High Technical School and lastly the West Africa Senior High School at Adenta in Accra.

The retired headmistress played various leadership roles from primary school through all institutions of higher learning during her educational and working career.

She also served on several committees and councils, both local and international, which include the Administration and Finance Committee of the West African Examination Council (WAEC), 2015-2019; the Ghana National Committee of WAEC 2015-2019, the International Final Awards and Examiners’ Appointment Committee (IFAEAC) of WAEC (2017-2019) and the International Council of WAEC 2018.

In her teaching career, she published several articles in some newspapers and produced magazines and books single-handedly and in some instances with her staff.