Professor Dorothy Yeboah Manu
THE DIRECTOR of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), Professor Dorothy Yeboah Manu, has encouraged young girls to take full advantage of the Free SHS and also the Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programme to achieve their academic goals.
She said it was important for future leaders in all spheres of life to position themselves and be part of the new wind blowing in order not to be left behind.
“It does not matter what you want to be in future, for everything is now linked to science and technology from the simple basic ways of doing things to the complex and complicated, thus it is important to have knowledge to be able to make meaningful and impactful contribution as future leaders,” she said.
Prof Yeboah Manu gave the advice when she delivered the keynote address at a durbar to climax the activities to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Ofori Panin Senior High School (OPASS) at Kukurantumi in the North Akyem District of the Eastern Region.
She said not only was the Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy providing access to quality education but also the drive to promote girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to pursue their dreams.
“The world including the administration of Akufo-Addo is championing girls in Science Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. It makes me proud to indicate that OPASS leads several girls who have finished this school and are excelling in several fields. I am optimistic about the future; the free SHS has given many students the opportunity to access quality education,” she said.
Prof Yeboah Manu, who is an old student of the school, and who during her school days was the only female student in the science class, said with the help of technology, STEM had been demystified and therefore urged the students to be focused on their choices to achieve excellence.
“Unlike during our time where many girls believed that science was a difficult course to pursue, now it has become part of our everyday life and technology and the learning opportunities have provided varied career opportunity paths,” she stressed.
She commended the old students for their contribution to the development of the country and also the school, expressing optimism about the future successes of the school.
President of OPOSA, Dr Joseph Ampofo, commended the alumni body for putting shoulders to the wheel to support the school and pledged that it would continue to play a key role in supporting the school to help it maintain its standards.
Headmaster of OPASS, Ernest Antwi Gyimah, expressed satisfaction at the school’s performance recently in the West Africa Senior High Schools Certificate Examination (WASSCE) following excellent results.
“In 2019, the school presented 895 candidates out of which 867 scored eight passes, 27 scored seven passes, one candidate scored 3 passes with two absentees. There was no failure and cancellation of papers neither was any result withheld. Again in 2020, 784 candidates were presented out of which 676 scored eight passes, 94 scored seven passes and 10 scored six passes, two scored five passes, one scored four passes with one absentee. There was no failure and cancellation of papers neither was any result withheld. Out of the 26 subjects studied in the school, 17 subjects have consistent scored 100 percent,” he indicated.
Mr Gyimah lauded the contribution of OPOSA and his immediate predecessor, John Baah Beantey, for constructing new facilities and renovating existing ones for the development of the school.
He lamented the encroachment of the school land by outsiders as the school was unfenced and called for support to build a wall around the school and protect its land.
Speaking on behalf of President Akufo-Addo, Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Kwame Acheampong, pledged 100 streets lights to the school to address the concern raised by the headmaster and also beef up security in the school.