From 2nd Left, Principal Raphael Kwashie, Deputy Volta Minister, Maxell Blagogee, Prof Yankah and Fmr Volta Minister, Hellen Ntoso
The St Francis College of Education in the Hohoe Municipality of the Volta Region is on the verge of losing most of its land due to the activities of encroachers.
Some of the encroachers have illegally built structures, including a church, on the school’s lands.
This was disclosed by the Principal of the School, Raphael Kodzo Kwashie when he addressed the gathering at the 10th Congregation of the College recently.
In all 470 students graduated, out of which only 9 had first class, 150 and 229 had second class upper and lower respectively. 77 obtained third class and five had pass.
The Overall Best Student of the school, Evaristus Ametefe was also adjudged the overall best student of all colleges of education in the region.
According to him, the activities of encroachers have halted the college’s fence hall project which is behind schedule due to some disagreement between the school authorities, encroachers and some land owners.
Mr. Kwashie therefore pleaded with the Paramount Chief of the Gbi Traditional Council, Togbe Gabusu, his sub-chiefs, the Ghana Education Service (GES) and other well-meaning citizens of Ghana and Hohoe to come to their aid. He was optimistic that should the encroachment by unscrupulous people stop, it would go a long way to improve teaching and learning in the school which surpassed all seven training colleges in the last three years in terms of performance.
Prof. Kwesi Yankah, who was impressed with the academic record of FRANCO, which happens to be the alma-mater of his wife, observed that “good education, indeed brilliance is meaningless if it is not founded on good discipline and sound moral integrity.”
Citing what he described as an anticlimax of the just-ended National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) due to theft of the handbag of the quiz mistress at the finals, he said the incident did not only rob NSMQ of its value and essence but also undermined the dignity of education in the country.
“The theft of the handbag produced a low and shameful anti-climax that robbed a great academic event, entirely of its value and its essence,” Prof. Yankah stressed.
“The shameful thief has also awakened us all to the crucial need in Ghana toady for holistic education both inside and outside the classroom.”
Although the purse of the Quiz Mistress, Dr. Elsie Effah Kaufmann had been found, Prof Kwesi Yankah said anyone who delivers the contents of the bag to the Ministry of Education would receive a handsome reward.
The bag is said to contain the cash, earrings, mobile phone, ID cards, ATM cards and other valuables.
He noted that government was committed to holistic education that has role for teacher, parent and community, adding that apart from academic training in class, the church and mosque teach morals while parents teach manners.
The Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Maxwell Blagogee assured Ghanaians that free SHS programe and the restoration of the teacher trainee allowance in September were testament to government’s commitment to improving education.
He noted that the challenges of the school, including encroachment, inadequate staff bungalows, dormitories, dining hall, school bus, among others, would be relayed to the appropriate quarters for action to be taken.
The occasion was used commission a female dormitory facility funded by GETFund and also honour the first African Principal of the institution, Pius Kwasi Akoto Ampaw (1961-1974), father of Lawyer Akoto Ampaw.
From Fred Duodu, Ho (freduoo@gmail.com)