La Emmaus Presby JHS 95-year-group donates to alma mater

The 1995-year-group of the La Emmaus Presby JHS has donated 70 mono desks, three pairs of teachers’ table and chair, and two swivel orthopaedic chairs to the school.

The gesture, forms part of the group’s activities to mark their 25th anniversary since completing the school.

25th anniversary

Presenting the items to the school on Thursday, November 19, 2020, the Leader of the 1995-year-group’s 25th anniversary, Mr Douglas Quartey, said the donation formed part of the school’s tradition where after 25 years of completion, old students give back to support the development of the school.

“We have gathered here today to continue one of the unique traditions of the La Salem where after 25 years of completion, old students give back to support the development of the school,” he noted.  

That, he explained, the 1995-year-group engaged the school authorities to identify some major challenges of the school, pointing out that during their interaction with the school’s authorities, they realised that the school faced problems with furniture for students and teachers.  

Students of La Emmaus Presby JHS enjoying some of the mono desks donated by the 1995-year-group

“It is sad to say that as a year group, we found the current furniture in use at the school to be worse than what we used in the 90s,” Mr Quartey, who also served as the School Prefect in 1995 said.

He said every school required good infrastructure such as classrooms and furniture, timely provision of teaching and learning; and good school governance to ensure quality education.

That, he said, the 1995-year-group was saddened by the challenges of the school, including furniture for teachers and students.

He also expressed worry over lack of discipline in the school, encouraging the students to be guided by discipline.

“It is unfortunate to note that the Presby discipline, which was the key attribute that made La Salem and many other Presby educational institutions to be the school of choice are no longer present,” Mr Quartey said.

Commendation

He commended the founders and stakeholders of the school for making basic education accessible to the children of La and its environs.

He also charged the students to continue to make the school proud by passing their Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), saying “Our donation should serve as a motivation to you to give of your best to enhance the image of La Emmaus in academic contests and more importantly, at the BECE.”

The 1995-year-group La Emmaus 44 in number, comprised 24 females and 20 males. Five of them have passed on.  

Challenges  

The Head Teacher of La Emmaus/Presby ‘A’ & ‘B’ JHS, Mr Gyasi Osei, commended the leadership and the entire 1995-year-group for the gesture.

He said it was the vision of the school to produce well prepared students to make positive impact and transform their societies and help build the nation as a whole.

According to him, the school would be able to achieve its vision if it was able to overcome the many challenges standing its way such as lack of furniture, textbooks, exercise books, computers, library books, sports equipment and other items which can facilitate its work as a school.

“This intervention which will go a long way to help us deliver quality education that we so much desire for the betterment of our lovely students,” Mr Osei thanked the 1995-year-group, calling on other past students of the school to come back to assist the school.

Guests

The District Minister of the La Bethel Presbyterian Church, Rev. Lt. Col. Abraham Laud Hammond praised the 1995-year-group for providing the school with the items, saying the gesture would improve the infrastructure of the school.

For her part, the Circuit Supervisor and representative of the La Municipal Directorate of Education, Mrs Mary Frimpong, expressed gratitude to the year group for the wonderful gesture and promised that the items would be put to good use to enhance teaching and learning in the school.

Mentorship

The 1995-year-group group also used the occasion to provide some mentorship training for the students, speaking to them on life after school, importance of discipline, honesty, humility, and good intellectual abilities.