Tamale Senior High School (TAMASCO) has marked its 70th anniversary with a call on the government to help improve the school’s infrastructure. This, management said, would increase the intake of students and, at the same time, facilitate better teaching and learning outcomes.
Headmaster of the school, Edward Azeka, made this known at a duarbar to mark the milestone, which was graced by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Vice-President Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, among other dignitaries.
Speaking on the theme: ‘Leading Secondary Education in Northern Ghana’, the headmaster said the implementation of the current administration’s flagship Free Senior High School policy has made it possible for the school to significantly increase its enrolment.
He added that this has seen female enrolment rise sharply, adding that he expects it to be at par with male enrolment in the next few years if the trend continues.
“Currently, our student population stands at 3,638 with females being 1,682 and 1,950 males which is almost three-fold higher than the previous enrolment figure. We are gradually getting to the point where we would have 50 percent for both males and females because the demand is very high. Our primary challenge is that we are limited with facilities, especially for the females,” he said.
Mr. Azeka stressed the need for schools at all levels to have boards to govern their affairs, adding that it brings balance and equity in decision-making.
He commended the traditional leaders for their commitment to the school as evidenced by their provision of land and other resources to enhance quality education.
Project
As part of the activities towards the celebration, a new mosque for the school was commissioned and handed over for the use of the muslim community in and around the school. The mosque comes equipped with ancillary facilities including a library, offices for the patron and Imam.
The project was financed by a banker, Farhan Alhassan, as his contribution towards the spiritual and moral development of the community.
Mr. Alhassan said the project is part of his contribution in giving back to the school as an old student.
The headmaster commended the contributors and hoped that the mosque will awaken the conscience of the students so that they would not be carried away by recent moral developments.
“With the changing times, there should be a strong emphasis on morality and with the things that are happening, including LGBTQ, which is being forced on us; we need to strengthen our religious foundation and to ensure that our children are not carried away by the strange wind, as our nation is faced with such moral challenge,” Mr. Azeeka remarked.
Some old students commended the management for the tremendous effort to raise the standard of education in the school which has reflected in the academic performance of the students. They also pledged their commitment to support management in diverse ways to achieve the set goals for the school.
